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Easy Very Common

Easy has 19 different meanings across 2 categories:

Adjective · Adverb

Definitions
Noun
1

Something that is easy

"The new hiking trail was surprisingly easy, so we finished it in just twenty minutes without even breaking a sweat."

"The easy is what you get when you stop struggling and just let things happen naturally."

Usage: The word "easy" does not have an accepted standard meaning as a noun and should generally be avoided in formal writing. If you need a noun to describe something simple or convenient, use the singular form "ease" instead.

Verb
1

Synonym of easy-oar

"The new hire found his first week at the company to be truly an easy job, requiring no complex tasks or heavy lifting."

In plain English: To make something less difficult or complicated.

"The new software makes it easy to share files with your team."

Usage: The word "easy" has no standard verb form in modern English and should not be used to mean "to relax" or "to make comfortable." If you intend to convey the meaning of the obsolete phrase "easy-oar," use the noun "easy" as an adjective, such as "an easy ride," rather than attempting to conjugate it as a verb.

Adjective
1

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"

2

not hurried or forced

"an easy walk around the block"

"at a leisurely (or easygoing) pace"

3

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 child faced the actual problem of reading she was familiar and at ease with all the elements words"

4

affording pleasure

"easy good looks"

5

having little impact

"an easy pat on the shoulder"

"gentle rain"

"a gentle breeze"

"a soft (or light) tapping at the window"

6

readily exploited or tricked

"an easy victim"

"an easy mark"

7

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"

8

marked by moderate steepness

"an easy climb"

"a gentle slope"

9

affording comfort

"soft light that was easy on the eyes"

10

casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior

"her easy virtue"

"he was told to avoid loose (or light) women"

"wanton behavior"

11

less in demand and therefore readily obtainable

"commodities are easy this quarter"

12

obtained with little effort or sacrifice, often obtained illegally

"easy money"

13

Comfortable; at ease.

"After sitting by the warm fire, she finally felt easy again after weeks of nervous tension."

In plain English: Easy describes something that is not difficult to do or understand.

Usage: Use "easy" to describe a situation or feeling that causes little stress or discomfort, such as sitting in an easy chair or having an easy conversation. Avoid using it to mean simple or effortless when you intend to convey difficulty, as the word specifically highlights physical or mental relaxation.

Adverb
1

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"

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

in a relaxed manner; or without hardship

"just wanted to take it easy"

"the judge went easy on the young defendant"

4

In a relaxed or casual manner.

"She decided to answer his questions about her weekend in an easy way, just chatting like old friends."

In plain English: When something is easy, it requires very little effort to do.

"She sang very easy for someone who had never performed before."

Usage: Use "easy" as an adverb only in informal contexts to describe doing something in a relaxed or casual way, such as saying "come easy." Avoid using it to modify verbs meaning simple or effortless, which requires the adjective "easily."

Example Sentences
"She sang very easy for someone who had never performed before." adv
"The easy is what you get when you stop struggling and just let things happen naturally." noun
"The new software makes it easy to share files with your team." verb
Related Terms
Antonyms

Origin

The word "easy" comes from Middle English and Anglo-Norman roots related to being "at ease." It originally described having empty space or leisure before evolving into its current meaning in English.

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