easy Hear it!

easy Definition

easy (ē′zē)

adjective eas′i·er, eas′i·est

  1. that can be done, got, mastered, endured, etc. with ease; not difficult; not exacting
  2. free from trouble, anxiety, pain, etc. an easy life
  3. conducive to comfort or rest; comfortable an easy chair
  4. fond of comfort, ease, or idleness
  5. free from constraint; not stiff, awkward, or embarrassed an easy manner
  6. not strict, harsh, or severe; lenient easy terms
  7. readily influenced; compliant or credulous an easy mark
    1. unhurried; not fast an easy pace
    2. not steep; gradual an easy descent
    1. in little demand: said of a commodity
    2. lacking firmness in prices: said of a market
    3. with funds plentiful and interest rates low: said of a money market
  10. Informal consenting to sexual activity readily and, usually, indiscriminately

Etymology: ME esi < OFr aisé, pp. of aisier (& aasié, pp. of aaisier < a- + aisier) < aise: see ease

adverb eas′i·er, eas′i·est

  1. easily
  2. slowly and carefully

easy Idioms

easy come, easy go

gotten and spent or lost with equal ease: implying a carefree attitude toward money

easy does it!

Informal be careful!go slowly!etc.

easy on the eyes

☆

Informal pleasant to look at; attractive

go easy on

☆ Informal
  1. to use or consume with restraint go easy on the paper
  2. to deal with leniently to go easy on traffic violators

on easy street

☆

well-to-do; in easy circumstances

take it easy

Informal
  1. to refrain from anger, haste, etc.
  2. to refrain from hard work; relax; rest
: Sometimes used as a farewell
easy Synonyms

easy

modif.

  1. Free from constraint or care

    at ease, secure, prosperous, comfortable, commodious, well-to-do, leisurely, unembarrassed, unconstrained, unaffected, natural, spontaneous, informal, free and easy, dégagé, loose, forthright, calm, peaceful, tranquil, careless, content(ed), carefree, untroubled, relaxed, equable, hospitable, on easy street, in clover*.

    Antonyms hard, impoverished, strained.

  2. Providing no difficulty

    simple, facile, effortless, obvious, apparent, clear, uncomplicated, elementary, yielding, easily done, not burdensome, requiring no effort, presenting few difficulties, smooth, manageable, accessible, wieldy, straightforward, foolproof, slight, mere, light, undemanding, nothing to it*, plain sailing*, simple as ABC*, easy as pie*, like taking candy from a baby*, like shooting fish in a rain barrel*, a piece of cake*, cushy*, soft*, Mickey Mouse*.

    Antonyms difficult*, complicated, hard.

  3. Lax

    indulgent, easygoing, permissive; see lenient.

  4. *Slowly and carefully

    cautiously, gently, lightly; see carefully 2.

easy is the broadest term here in its application to that which demands little effort or presents little difficulty easy work; facile means occurring, moving, working, etc. easily and quickly, sometimes unfavorably suggesting a lack of thoroughness or depth a facile style; effortless, in contrast, favorably suggests expert skill or knowledge as responsible for performance that seems to require no effort the effortless grace of the skater; smooth suggests freedom from or riddance of irregularities, obstacles, or difficulties as bringing ease of movement a smooth path to success; simple suggests freedom from complication, elaboration, or involvement, as making something easy to understand a simple explanation

on easy street

well-to-do, wealthy, prosperous; see rich 1.

take it easy

relax, rest, slow down; see calm down.

easy Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • eye: High brightness, high contrast & fast screen refresh - for superior image quality that is easy on the eye.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • make: Don't make life easy for them - don't give the evidence to them!
  • find: I found the book easy to get into, with a very striking first paragraph.

Modifies a noun

  • reach: Sun & Sand Sun worshippers who want duvet soft beaches within easy reach will be spoilt with the endless shores of the Algarve.
  • access: Easy access from the car park situated behind the beach.
  • way: I just feel it's the easiest way for me to pass on what I know.
  • task: On the surface this is an easy task, for which there is no formal training.
  • distance: There are also many restaurants, of all types, within easy walking distance.
  • navigation: Ordering - How to Use this Site This web site has been designed for easy navigation using a variety of search facilities.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: With a bit of practice these tasks become easier.
  • seem: For whatever reason, making purchases with credit cards seems easier than spending cash to obtain a product or service.
  • prove: This should prove far easier to bring a claim, avoiding the need to look to Europe to enforce their rights.

Infinitive complement

  • understand: What's more, the writing style is really easy to understand.
  • navigate: The rather garish framed site opens quickly, and is easy to navigate, tho most pages require scrolling.
  • read: Text can be easier to read in these modes.
  • install: Easy to install Can be installed on any type of ceiling.
  • use: See our complete easy to use online listing of these popular postage stamps?
  • forget: It is easy to forget that learning goes on inside children's heads.

Preposition: for

  • anyone: The decision to leave a party to which you have given many yearsof commitment cannot be easy for anyone.
  • reader: Comment sheets were included in each pamphlet to make it easier for readers to send their views on particular rights to the Commission.
easy Quotes

Some time ago, in an interview that turned towards the Theatre, I suggested that 'Pubic hair is not an adequate substitute for wit'. My point now is that depending upon shock tactics is easy, whereas writing a good play is difficult.

—Priestley,J(ohn) B(oynton)

Difficilis facilis, iucundus acerbus es idem: Nec tecum possum vivere nec sine te. Difficult or easy, pleasant or bitter, you are the same: I cannot live with youöor without you.

—Martial full name MarcusValerius Martialis

It is easyöterribly easyöto shake a man's faith in himself.Totakeadvantage ofthattobreak a man'sspirit is devil's work.

—Shaw, George Bernard

Life is not easy. I paint the memory of happiness.

—Saifoutdinov, Anvar

Life is not meant to be easy.

—Fraser, (John) Malcolm

Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet; She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet. She bid metake love easy, asthe leavesgrow on thetree; But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree. In a field by the river my love and I did stand, And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand. She bid metake life easy, as thegrassgrows on the weirs; But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.

—Yeats,W(illiam) B(utler)

The sonatas of Mozart are unique; they are too easy for children, and too difficult for artists.

—Schnabel, Artur