Word forms: comparative easier, superlative easiest
1. adjective [ADJECTIVE to-infinitive]
If a job or action is easy, you can do it without difficulty or effort, because it is not complicated and causes no problems.
The shower is easy to install.
It's easy to get a seat at the best shows in town.
This is not an easy task.
The home is situated within easy access of shops and other facilities.
Synonyms: simple, straightforward, no trouble, not difficult More Synonyms of easy
easilyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb]
Dress your child in layers of clothes you can remove easily.
Synonyms: without difficulty, smoothly, readily, comfortably More Synonyms of easy
2. adjective
If you describe an action or activity as easy, you mean that it is done in a confident, relaxed way. If someone is easyabout something, they feel relaxed and confident about it.
She is laughing and joking and making easy conversation with people she has nevermet before.
He was an easy person to talk to.
...when you are both feeling a little easier about the break up of your relationship.
Synonyms: relaxed, friendly, open, natural More Synonyms of easy
easilyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
They talked amiably and easily about a range of topics.
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you say that someone has an easy life, you mean that they live comfortably without any problems or worries.
She has not had an easy life.
Synonyms: carefree, comfortable, pleasant, leisurely More Synonyms of easy
If you say that something is easy or too easy, you are criticizing someone because they have done the most obvious or least difficult thing, and have not considered the situation carefully enough.
[disapproval]
That's easy for you to say.
It was all too easy to believe it.
5. graded adjective [v-link ADJon the n]
You use easy in expressions such as easy on the ear or easy on the eye when you are describing things that are pleasant and that do not need much effort to be enjoyed or done.
[informal]
The music sounds like an advert–easy on the ear but bland and forgettable.
The layout should be clear and easy on the eye.
...a low-impact form of aerobic exercise that's easy on the joints.
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe someone or something as easy prey or as an easy target, you mean that they can easily be attacked or criticized.
Tourists have become easy prey.
Leaders are easy targets for critics, because they have visibility.
7.
See easy come, easy go
8.
See easy does it
9.
See go easy on sth
10.
See go/be easy on sb
11.
See easier said than done
12.
See take it easy
13. See also easily
More Synonyms of easy
easy in British English
(ˈiːzɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: easier or easiest
1.
not requiring much labour or effort; not difficult; simple
an easy job
2.
free from pain, care, or anxiety
easy in one's mind
3.
not harsh or restricting; lenient
easy laws
4.
tolerant and undemanding; easy-going
an easy disposition
5.
readily influenced or persuaded; pliant
she was an easy victim of his wiles
6.
not tight or constricting; loose
an easy fit
7.
not strained or extreme; moderate; gentle
an easy pace
an easy ascent
8. economics
a.
readily obtainable
b.
(of a market) characterized by low demand or excess supply with prices tending to fall
Compare tight (sense 10)
9. informal
ready to fall in with any suggestion made; not predisposed
he is easy about what to do
10. slang
sexually available
11. easy on the eye
12. woman of easy virtue
adverb
13. informal
in an easy or relaxed manner
14. easy does it
15. go easy on
16. stand easy
17. take it easy
verbWord forms: easies, easying or easied
18. Also: easy-oar(usually imperative)
to stop rowing
▶ USAGE Easy is not used as an adverb by careful speakers and writers except in certain set phrases:to take it easy; easy does it. Where a fixed expression is not involved, the usual adverbial form of easily is preferred: this polish goes on more easily (not easier) than the other
Word origin
C12: from Old French aisié, past participle of aisier to relieve, ease
easy in American English
(ˈizi)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈeasier or ˈeasiest
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
8.
a.
unhurried; not fast
an easy pace
b.
not steep; gradual
an easy descent
9.
a.
in little demand
said of a commodity
b.
lacking firmness in prices
said of a market
c.
with funds plentiful and interest rates low
said of a money market
10. Informal
consenting to sexual activity readily and, usually, indiscriminately
adverbWord forms: ˈeasier or ˈeasiest Informal
11.
easily
12.
slowly and carefully
Idioms:
easy come, easy go
easy does it!
easy on the eyes
go easy on
on easy street
take it easy
SYNONYMY NOTE: easy is the broadest term here in its application to that which demands little effortor presents little difficulty [easy work]; facile means occurring, moving, working, etc. easily and quickly, sometimes unfavorablysuggesting a lack of thoroughness or depth [a facile style]; effortless, in contrast, favorably suggests expert skill or knowledge as responsible for performancethat seems to require no effort [the effortless grace of the skater]; smooth suggests freedom from or riddance of irregularities, obstacles, or difficulties asbringing ease of movement [a smooth path to success]; simple, in this connection, suggests freedom from complication or elaboration as makingsomething easy to understand [a simple recipe]
OPPOSITES: hard, difficult
Word origin
ME esi < OFr aisé, pp. of aisier (& aasié, pp. of aaisier < a- + aisier) < aise: see ease
More idioms containing
easy
take it easy
go easy on something
go easy on someone
easy come, easy go
easy as pie
the easy way out
Examples of 'easy' in a sentence
easy
We have learned that life is easier if we support one another.
The Sun (2017)
So easy to forget when all they do is drone on about buying stuff for their companies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He could make the job look easy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What is now easy used to be difficult.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Yet those questions are arguably the easy ones.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So did he use a comic form to make it easier to say provocative things?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This adds texture, but remains simple and easy on the eye.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Switching is quick, easy and free.
The Sun (2016)
It almost sounds too easy: the simple act of walking will make you healthier and add years to your life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It will be interesting to listen to him because it could make his life a bit easier.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
White is easier on the eye then.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This makes it easy to forget their radical history.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What could be simpler and easier than that?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Was the writing easier or more difficult than trying to write on your own?
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
We found the package effective and easy to use.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Obviously that does make his job a bit easier.
The Sun (2008)
This button is free and easy to use.
The Sun (2009)
And arguably the questions about governments are the easy ones.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Which is not to say it is easy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Then they made it much easier for settlers to obtain land of their own.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
This made them relatively easy prey for older party leaders who had patronage to give or withhold.
Simon Ball THE GUARDSMEN (2004)
We wish we could stop at this point and go on to something easier.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
These little meatballs are quick and easy to make and utterly delicious.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It is thought information received through the right ear is easier to process.
The Sun (2009)
The minimum requirement for a good radio presenter is an easy speaking manner.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Caring less makes my life so much easier.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They may be big but they are bold and easy on the eye.
The Sun (2006)
But it is easy to forget how last season crashed.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is easy to see what is going on in this situation.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
The format is simple and easy to pick up.
The Sun (2014)
To compose a planting scheme is similarly easy or difficult.
Page, Russell The Education of a Gardener (1994)
He said: 'It comes easy to me.
The Sun (2009)
He said: 'It is not easy to leave a team when you have been there almost four years.
The Sun (2010)
Quotations
Easy come, easy go
In other languages
easy
British English: easy /ˈiːzɪ/ ADJECTIVE
If a job or action is easy, you can do it without difficulty.
Our maths homework was easy.
American English: easy
Arabic: سَهْل
Brazilian Portuguese: fácil
Chinese: 容易的
Croatian: lagan
Czech: snadný
Danish: let
Dutch: gemakkelijk
European Spanish: fácil
Finnish: helppo
French: facile
German: einfach
Greek: εύκολος
Italian: facile
Japanese: 簡単な
Korean: 쉬운
Norwegian: lettvint
Polish: łatwy
European Portuguese: fácil
Romanian: ușor
Russian: легко
Latin American Spanish: fácil
Swedish: enkel lätt
Thai: ง่าย
Turkish: kolay
Ukrainian: простий
Vietnamese: dễ
All related terms of 'easy'
Big Easy
the → New Orleans
easy-care
(esp of a fabric or garment) hardwearing, practical , and requiring no special treatment during washing , cleaning , etc
easy game
a person who is easily deceived or taken advantage of
easy meat
someone easily seduced or deceived
easy-oar
not requiring much labour or effort; not difficult; simple
easy path
A path that you take is a particular course of action or way of achieving something.
over easy
If a fried egg is served over easy , it is cooked on both sides .
piss easy
easily obtained or achieved
rest easy
If you say that someone can rest easy , you mean that they don't need to worry about a particular situation .
easy chair
An easy chair is a large, comfortable padded chair.
easy-going
If you describe someone as easy-going , you mean that they are not easily annoyed , worried , or upset , and you think this is a good quality.
easy money
money made with little effort , sometimes dishonestly
easy option
An option is something that you can choose to do in preference to one or more alternatives .
easy-peasy
very easy ; presenting no difficulty at all
easy recipe
A recipe is a list of ingredients and a set of instructions that tell you how to cook something.
Easy Street
a state of financial security
easy touch
a person who is easily deceived or taken advantage of
easy virtue
loose morals ; sexual promiscuity
speak-easy
a place where alcoholic drinks are sold illegally, esp. such a place in the U.S. during Prohibition
stand easy
a command to soldiers standing at ease that they may relax further
easy passage
The passage of someone or something is their movement from one place to another.
go easy on
to use in moderation
easy as pie
very easy to do. Compare a piece of cake ; see piece .
easy does it
If you say ' Easy does it ', you are telling someone to be careful and not to use too much effort , especially when they are moving something large and awkward .
easy listening
Easy listening is gentle , relaxing music. Some people do not like this kind of music because they do not think that it is very interesting or exciting .
take it easy
If someone tells you to take it easy or take things easy , they mean that you should relax and not do very much at all.
by easy stages
not hurriedly
free and easy
Someone or something that is free and easy is casual and informal.
no easy matter
If something is no easy matter , it is difficult to do it.
on easy street
well-to-do ; in easy circumstances
easy come, easy go
You use easy come, easy go to indicate that the person you are talking about does not care much about money and possessions .
(as) easy as pie
extremely easy
easy on the eye
pleasant to look at; attractive , esp sexually
easy on the eyes
pleasant to look at; attractive
go easy on sth
If you tell someone to go easy on something, you are telling them to use only a small amount of it.
the easy way out
If you say that someone takes the easy way out , you disapprove of them because they do what is easiest for them in a difficult situation , rather than dealing with it properly.
go/be easy on sb
If you tell someone to go easy on , or be easy on , a particular person, you are telling them not to punish or treat that person very severely.
go easy on someone
to punish or treat someone less severely than might be expected or deserved
woman of easy virtue
a sexually available woman , esp a prostitute
a soft touch an easy touch
If you say that someone is a soft touch or an easy touch , you mean that they can easily be persuaded to lend you money or to do things for you.
to make short/heavy/easy/quick work of sth to make light work of
You can use work to talk about how easily or quickly a particular task is done . For example , if a person or thing makes short work of doing something or makes light work of it, they do it quickly and easily.
Chinese translation of 'easy'
easy
(ˈiːzɪ)
adj
(= simple) 容易的 (róngyì de)
(= relaxed) 自在的 (zìzài de)
⇒ an easy conversation畅谈 (chàngtán)
⇒ Everyone wants a free and easy life.每个人都想过自由自在的生活。 (Měigè rén dōu xiǎng guò zìyóuzìzài de shēnghuó.)
(= comfortable)[life, time]安逸的 (ānyì de)
[target, prey]易上当(當)的 (yì shàngdàng de)
⇒ Tourists have become easy prey.旅客成了容易受害的人。 (Lǚkè chéngle róngyì shòuhài de rén.)
adv
to take it or things easy (= relax) 放松(鬆)一点(點) (fàngsōng yīdiǎn) (= go slowly) 不慌不忙 (bù huāng bù máng) (= not worry) 不急 (bù jí)
dogs are easy to train狗很容易训(訓)练(練) (gǒu hěn róngyì xùnliàn)
⇒ The shower is easy to install.这个淋浴很容易安装。 (Zhège línyù hěn róngyì ānzhuāng.)
it's easy to train dogs驯狗是容易的 (xùngǒu shì róngyì de)
⇒ It's easy to get lost in this part of town.在镇子的这边容易迷路。 (Zài zhènzi de zhè biān róngyì mílù.)
it's easy for sb to do sth对(對)于(於)某人来(來)说(說) ，做某事是容易的 (duìyú mǒurén láishuō, zuò mǒushì shì róngyì de)
⇒ That's easy for you to say!你说得轻松！ (Nǐ shuō de qīngsōng!)
to make life easier使生活更方便 (shǐ shēnghuó gèng fāngbiàn)
to feel or be easy about sth对(對)某事感到安心 (duì mǒushì gǎndào ānxīn)
I'm easy (inf) 我随(隨)便 (wǒ suíbiàn)
payment on easy terms (Comm) 分期付款 (fēnqī fùkuǎn)
that's easier said than done说(說)时(時)容易做时(時)难(難) (shuōshí róngyì zuòshí nán)
All related terms of 'easy'
I'm easy
( inf ) 我随(隨)便 wǒ suíbiàn
easy-going
脾气(氣)随(隨)和的 píqì suíhé de
free and easy
自由自在的 zìyóu zìzài de
on easy terms
( Comm ) 以分期付款方式 yǐ fēnqī fùkuǎn fāngshì
payment on easy terms
( Comm ) 分期付款 fēnqī fùkuǎn
dogs are easy to train
狗很容易训(訓)练(練) gǒu hěn róngyì xùnliàn ⇒ The shower is easy to install. → 这个淋浴很容易安装。 Zhège línyù hěn róngyì ānzhuāng.
it's easy to train dogs
驯狗是容易的 xùngǒu shì róngyì de ⇒ It's easy to get lost in this part of town. → 在镇子的这边容易迷路。 Zài zhènzi de zhè biān róngyì mílù.
this ought to be easy
( but it isn't ) 这(這)本该(該)挺容易的 zhè běn gāi tǐng róngyì de