convenience
/kənˈviːniəns/ (bre, ipa) · [kənvˈinjəns] /kənˈviːniəns/ (ame, ipa) · [kənvˈinjəns] /kən-ˈvēn-yən(t)s/ (ame, mw)
convenience — noun
- conveniencesingular
- conveniencesplural
1. the quality that makes something easy, suitable, or useful for a purpose, saving
the quality that makes something easy, suitable, or useful for a purpose, saving time and effort
Nadia enjoys the convenience of paying her bills online instead of going to the bank.
uncountable noun + of + gerund
For the convenience of guests, the hotel offers a free shuttle service to the airport.
for the convenience of [person]
The convenience of a ground-floor grocery store saved the family many long trips.
Ryo chose the apartment for its convenience since the station was a three-minute walk away.
Ritu valued the convenience of a washer-dryer that finished the laundry while she slept.
- ease
focuses on lack of difficulty rather than time-saving
- handiness
informal; emphasises physical accessibility
- practicality
stresses usefulness in real situations
- inconvenience
the opposite quality of being difficult or unsuitable
2. a time that works well for someone’s schedule and does not cause any difficulty
a time that works well for someone’s schedule and does not cause any difficulty
Please call me back at your convenience — any evening after six works well for me.
at your convenience
The plumber said he would come at a time of our convenience to fix the broken tap.
at a time of [possessive] convenience
We scheduled the interview at the candidate’s convenience since she was flying in from Japan.
Let me know at your convenience for a short video call to discuss the new project.
- suitability
more formal, focuses on how well something fits a situation
用法筆記
This sense almost always appears in the fixed phrase “at [possessive] convenience” or “at a time of [possessive] convenience.”
常見錯誤
3. a polite way of asking someone to do something as soon as they are able, used in
a polite way of asking someone to do something as soon as they are able, used in letters, emails, and official requests
Please submit your application form at your earliest convenience to secure your place on the course.
at your earliest convenience
The landlord asked the tenant to pay the overdue rent at his earliest convenience.
Kindly return the signed contract at your earliest convenience so we can process your order.
The school requests that parents complete the permission form at their earliest convenience.
- as soon as possible
less formal and more direct; can also be used in everyday speech
用法筆記
This is a fixed formula used only in formal written communication. In casual speech, “as soon as you can” is more natural.
常見錯誤
4. a machine, piece of equipment, or service that makes everyday tasks easier and q
a machine, piece of equipment, or service that makes everyday tasks easier and quicker to do, saving time and effort
The rice cooker is one of the most popular conveniences in a modern Taiwanese kitchen.
countable: a convenience / modern conveniences
Modern conveniences like the microwave and dishwasher have changed how families cook and clean.
The new apartment was equipped with every convenience, including a smart thermostat and a video doorbell.
Kenji bought a robot vacuum cleaner, a small convenience that saved him thirty minutes of sweeping each day.
5. a room with a toilet in a public area like a park, station, or shopping centre t
a room with a toilet in a public area like a park, station, or shopping centre that anyone can use
The public conveniences near the train station were clean and well maintained.
British formal: public conveniences
Tamar asked the shop assistant whether there were any public conveniences nearby.
The park has a row of public conveniences next to the children’s playground.
The city council voted to keep the public conveniences open for twenty-four hours a day.
- restroom
American English; more common in daily use
- public toilet
more neutral and widely understood across dialects
用法筆記
This sense is mainly used in British English. In American English, “restroom” or “public restroom” is far more common.
常見錯誤
convenience — adjective
- conveniencepositive
- more conveniencecomparative
- most conveniencesuperlative
1. describes food or products that are prepared or packaged so they can be used, co
describes food or products that are prepared or packaged so they can be used, cooked, or eaten quickly with very little effort
Heather bought a bag of convenience rice that cooks in just two minutes in the microwave.
attributive: convenience + noun (food/products)
Convenience foods like frozen dumplings are popular among students who have little time to cook.
The supermarket has a whole aisle devoted to convenience meals and instant noodles.
Although convenience soup is quicker to make, Liam prefers the taste of homemade broth.
- instant
specifically means something can be prepared immediately by adding water or heating
- prepackaged
focuses on the packaging rather than the ease of preparation
- homemade
made from scratch at home, requiring more effort and time
用法筆記
This adjective is always used before a noun (e.g. “convenience food,” “convenience store”) and does not appear after a linking verb.