Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Requiring little effort or difficulty: Describes something that is not hard to do or achieve.
   • Free from worry, anxiety, or pain: Describes a state of being comfortable, relaxed, or not troubled.
   • Gentle and not harsh or severe: Describes something that is mild, gradual, or not demanding.
   • Readily available or in plentiful supply: Describes something, especially a commodity, that is not scarce.
   • Lenient or tolerant: Describes a person who is not strict or demanding.
   • Financially comfortable: Describes a situation of having enough money to live without hardship.
   • Readily tricked or persuaded: Describes a person who is gullible or not suspicious.

2. Adverb:

   • In a relaxed and unhurried manner: Used to describe performing an action without stress or rush.
   • Without difficulty or effort: Used informally to mean "easily."

Examples

• Adjective:

  • This is an easy puzzle to solve. (It is not a difficult puzzle.)
  • He has an easy manner that makes people feel comfortable. (His relaxed behavior is comforting.)
  • The hill has an easy slope. (The hill is not steep.)
  • Fruits are easy to find in the summer. (Fruits are readily available.)
  • My teacher is easy about deadlines. (My teacher is lenient with due dates.)
  • They live an easy life after their success. (They live a comfortable, prosperous life.)
  • He is an easy target for scams. (He is gullible and easily tricked.)

• Adverb:

  • Just take it easy and don't worry. (Relax and do not worry.)
  • The team won easy. (The team won without difficulty.)

Advanced Usage

• "Take it easy": An idiom meaning to relax, rest, or avoid stress.

  • You've been working hard; you should take it easy this weekend.

• "Go easy on (someone/something)": To treat someone with leniency or to use something sparingly.

  • Go easy on him; it's his first mistake. (Be lenient with him.)
  • Go easy on the salt; the soup is already flavorful. (Use less salt.)

• "Easier said than done": An idiom meaning something is much more difficult to do than to talk about.

  • Finding a perfect job is easier said than done.

• "On easy street": An idiom meaning in a comfortable financial situation.

  • After the investment paid off, they were on easy street.

Variants and Related Words

• Easily (adverb): Without difficulty or effort.

  • She easily finished the race.

• Easiness (noun): The quality or state of being easy.

  • The easiness of the task surprised everyone.

• Easygoing (adjective): Relaxed and tolerant in attitude or manner.

  • Her easygoing personality makes her a great friend.

Synonyms

• Simple (for "requiring little effort")
• Effortless
• Comfortable (for "free from worry")
• Lenient (for "tolerant")
• Gullible (for "readily tricked")

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Ease off / Ease up: To reduce in intensity, severity, or pressure.
  • The rain should ease off by evening.
  • He needs to ease up on his employees. (He needs to be less strict.)

Related Idioms

• "Easy come, easy go": Said when something, especially money, is quickly acquired and just as quickly lost.

  • He spent all his winnings in a week—easy come, easy go.

• "Easy does it": A phrase advising someone to proceed slowly and carefully.

  • Easy does it while carrying that heavy box.

Adjective

1. obtained with little effort or sacrifice, often obtained illegally
   • easy money
2. less in demand and therefore readily obtainable
   • commodities are easy this quarter
3. casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
   • her easy virtue
   • he was told to avoid loose (or light) women
   • wanton behavior
4. affording comfort
   • soft light that was easy on the eyes
5. marked by moderate steepness
   • an easy climb
   • a gentle slope
6. in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
   • they were comfortable or even wealthy by some standards
   • easy living
   • a prosperous family
   • his family is well-situated financially
   • well-to-do members of the community
7. readily exploited or tricked
   • an easy victim
   • an easy mark
8. having little impact
   • an easy pat on the shoulder
   • gentle rain
   • a gentle breeze
   • a soft (or light) tapping at the window
9. affording pleasure
   • easy good looks
10. free from worry or anxiety
    • knowing that I had done my best, my mind was easy
    • an easy good-natured manner
    • by the time the chsild faced the actual problem of reading she was familiar and at ease with all the elements words
11. not hurried or forced
    • an easy walk around the block
    • at a leisurely (or easygoing) pace
12. posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
    • an easy job
    • an easy problem
    • an easy victory
    • the house is easy to heat
    • satisfied with easy answers
    • took the easy way out of his dilemma

Adverb

1. in a relaxed manner; or without hardship
   • just wanted to take it easy (`soft' is nonstandard)
2. without speed (`slow' is sometimes used informally for `slowly')
   • he spoke slowly
   • go easy here--the road is slippery
   • glaciers move tardily
   • please go slow so I can see the sights
3. with ease (`easy' is sometimes used informally for `easily')
   • she was easily excited
   • was easily confused
   • he won easily
   • this china breaks very easily
   • success came too easy