ə̇nˈjȯi, en- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English enjoien, from Middle French enjoir, from Old French, from en- en- (I) + joir to derive benefit or pleasure, from Latin gaudēre to rejoice — more at joy
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to feel or manifest joy : rejoice
2. : to have a good time
transitive verb
1. : to take pleasure or satisfaction in : experience or possess with pleasure
enjoying a comfortable chat by the fire
they enjoyed the beat of the rain on the roof
foolish men who having wealth do not enjoy it
2.
a. : to have in possession for one's use or satisfaction
he enjoyed a good salary for many years
the right to enjoy liberty and the pursuit of happiness
b. : to have the benefit of (as a right, a desirable thing or quality, or something profitable)
she enjoys a life interest in her husband's estate
they enjoyed the esteem of their fellows
enjoyed the income from a nice little family business
c. : to undergo the experience of (a change for the better)
dried skim milk enjoyed an enormous rise — Vance Packard
3.
a. : to make happy
enjoyed themselves at the party
b. chiefly dialect : entertain
4. : to copulate with (a woman)
5. : to be immediately aware of (as an emotion or psychic reaction) not as an object of thought but as a phase or ingredient of one's own conscious state or activity — compare contemplate 4
Synonyms: see have , like