enjoy
A1Neutral (used across all registers from informal to formal)
Definition
Meaning
to take pleasure in something
to have the benefit of something; to experience something positive
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily transitive; implies active appreciation rather than passive state; often describes a temporary state of pleasure from a specific activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Slightly greater tendency in British English to use 'enjoy oneself' for 'have a good time'.
Connotations
Equally positive in both variants.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both, with no significant difference.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
enjoy + noun/pronounenjoy + gerund (verb-ing)enjoy + reflexive pronoun (enjoy oneself)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “enjoy the ride”
- “enjoy every minute”
- “enjoy the fruits of your labour”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in contexts like team-building or client relations (e.g., 'We hope you enjoyed the conference').
Academic
Less frequent; used in broader discussions of experience or qualitative research (e.g., 'Participants reported enjoying the creative task').
Everyday
Very common for activities, food, events, and company.
Technical
Rare, except in fields like tourism, hospitality, or psychology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I always enjoy a proper cup of tea.
- Did you enjoy the match at the weekend?
- They're enjoying a fortnight in Spain.
American English
- I really enjoyed the baseball game last night.
- We hope you enjoy your vacation.
- She enjoys hiking in the national park.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I enjoy pizza.
- The children enjoy playing in the park.
- Did you enjoy the film?
- He doesn't seem to enjoy classical music.
- We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at the new restaurant.
- You need to learn to enjoy the small things in life.
- Despite the rain, we managed to enjoy ourselves at the festival.
- I've come to enjoy studying history as I've gotten older.
- She enjoys the respect of her colleagues.
- The committee enjoyed considerable autonomy in its decision-making.
- He enjoys a reputation for being scrupulously honest.
- The town enjoys a privileged position on the coast.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
EN-JOY: Imagine putting JOY INto an experience.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLEASURE IS A CONTAINER (you can be 'full of' enjoyment); AN ACTIVITY IS A JOURNEY (you can 'enjoy the ride').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'like' (нравиться) in all contexts. 'Enjoy' requires a direct object or reflexive. 'I enjoy it' is correct, but not *'It enjoys me'.
Common Mistakes
- Using infinitive instead of gerund (*'I enjoy to read').
- Using without an object where one is needed (*'I enjoyed very much').
- Overusing in formal writing where 'appreciate' or 'value' might be more precise.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'enjoy' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Only with the reflexive form 'enjoy yourself' (e.g., 'Have a good time! Enjoy yourself!'). Otherwise, it needs a direct object.
Always a gerund (-ing form) or a noun. 'I enjoy reading' is correct. 'I enjoy to read' is incorrect.
'Enjoy' is stronger and more active, suggesting you take pleasure from the experience itself. 'Like' is broader and can refer to general preference. You can 'like' someone, but you 'enjoy' their company.
It is neutral and appropriate for all contexts, from casual conversation to formal writing.
Collections
Part of a collection
Emotions and Feelings
A2 · 33 words · Words to describe how you feel.