easy
easy — adjective
- easypositive
- easiercomparative
- easiestsuperlative
1. A task or activity that is easy can be done or understood without much effort or
A task or activity that is easy can be done or understood without much effort or trouble.
The maths test was surprisingly easy for the whole class.
Arjun found an easy way to fix the broken drawer using strong glue.
easy way + to-infinitive
Learning to ride a bike is not always easy for young children.
easy for [person]
The recipe was so easy that Naoko made it without once looking at the book.
so easy that + clause
- easy task
- easy question
- easy decision
- easy job
- easy choice
- simple
focuses on the lack of complexity rather than effort
- effortless
suggests something is done so easily it seems to take no effort at all; slightly more formal
- straightforward
emphasises a clear, logical path with no hidden difficulties
- painless
informal, suggests the task causes no trouble or inconvenience
Grammar Patterns
easy + to-infinitive
easy + for + person
easy + noun
Usage Note
Commonly followed by a to-infinitive ('easy to use', 'easy to clean'). The subject is usually the thing being done, not the person: 'The instructions are easy to follow', NOT 'You are easy to follow the instructions'.
Common Mistakes
2. Describes a situation or state where a person has no worry, discomfort, or diffi
Describes a situation or state where a person has no worry, discomfort, or difficulty; comfortable and relaxed.
After the long massage, Élise felt easy and relaxed for the first time in months.
The old armchair is soft and easy, perfect for curling up with a good book.
easy = comfortable (used of furniture)
Hao has an easy smile that makes everyone around him feel welcome.
The group walked at an easy pace, stopping often to enjoy the mountain views.
easy pace: relaxed, unhurried
- easy life
- easy smile
- easy pace
- easy manner
- easy feeling
- comfortable
more general, used for physical ease and financial security
- relaxed
emphasises the absence of tension or stress
- peaceful
suggests a calm, quiet environment without disturbance
Grammar Patterns
easy + noun
feel easy
be easy
look easy
Usage Note
This sense often describes a person's manner, a lifestyle, or the physical comfort of furniture or clothing. It is different from sense 1, which focuses on how much effort a task requires.
Common Mistakes
Extremely simple to do or understand.
After some practice, riding a bike became as easy as pie for Min.
The math problem was as easy as ABC for the advanced students.
an easy/a soft touch
idiomA person who is easily persuaded, especially to give money or help.
My grandmother is an easy touch; she always gives us extra pocket money.
Don't ask Brian for a loan; he's no soft touch.
easy meat
idiomA person who is easy to defeat, cheat, or take advantage of.
The scammer saw tourists as easy meat for his fake charity.
In the debate, the inexperienced candidate was easy meat for the veteran.
easy money
idiomMoney that is earned with little effort or work.
He thought online surveys would bring easy money, but they paid very little.
Winning the lottery is not easy money; it's just luck.
easy on the ear/eye
idiomPleasant to listen to or look at.
The new café has soft lighting and pastel colors that are easy on the eye.
Her voice is easy on the ear, making the long drive enjoyable.
A choice that requires less effort or difficulty than other options.
Taking the easy option, Diego ordered pizza instead of cooking.
The teacher warned that the project was not a soft option.
free and easy
idiomInformal, relaxed, and without strict rules.
The company has a free and easy dress code on Fridays.
Life on the island was free and easy, with no schedules.
To experience no difficulties or to make things easy for someone.
The new manager did not have an easy ride; the staff resisted changes.
The coach gave the rookie an easy ride during training.
To experience no problems or difficulties.
Sara had an easy time of it because her colleagues helped her.
With a supportive family, he had an easy time adjusting to college.
I’m easy
idiomUsed to say you have no strong preference when given a choice.
“Do you want tea or coffee?” “I'm easy, whatever you prefer.”
“Should we eat in or go out?” “I'm easy, you decide.”
of easy virtue
idiomWilling to have sex with anyone; morally loose.
The novel's villain described her as a woman of easy virtue.
In the play, the maid was falsely accused of being of easy virtue.
on easy street
idiomLiving in a comfortable financial situation with plenty of money.
After his invention succeeded, he was on easy street for life.
They dreamed of winning the lottery and living on easy street.
To choose the simplest solution to a problem, even if it is not the best.
Instead of fixing the car, he took the easy way out and sold it.
She took the easy way out by copying her friend's homework.
Close enough to be easily reached or accessed.
The hotel is within easy reach of the beach and shops.
Keep a glass of water within reach while you work.
easy — adverb
1. Done without difficulty or effort; used in informal English in place of the adve
Done without difficulty or effort; used in informal English in place of the adverb 'easily'.
Caio passed his driving test easy, even though he was quite nervous beforehand.
informal: easy = easily
The new software runs easy on older computers and never slows them down.
Obi finished the crossword puzzle easy, fitting every word in under eight minutes.
The tourists navigated the old city easy using the new map app on their phones.
verb + easy (informal adverb)
- go easy
- come easy
- run easy
- easily
the standard formal equivalent; use in writing
- effortlessly
emphasises that the task required no strain
Grammar Patterns
verb + easy
Usage Note
This use of 'easy' as an adverb is informal. In standard written English, 'easily' is preferred. Common in everyday speech and casual writing.
Common Mistakes
2. In a slow and careful way, without rushing or becoming excited, especially when
In a slow and careful way, without rushing or becoming excited, especially when handling something delicate or risky.
The climbing instructor told everyone to go easy on the steep section near the top.
go easy on [thing]: use carefully
Pim reminded himself to take it easy while recovering from the ankle injury.
take it easy: avoid rushing
Easy does it — lift from the bottom so the glass inside does not break.
easy does it: handle carefully
The movers took it easy carrying the piano down the narrow staircase.
- go easy on
- take it easy
- easy does it
- walk easy
Grammar Patterns
go easy
take it easy
walk easy
easy does it
Usage Note
Most often appears in fixed phrases: 'go easy (on someone/something)', 'take it easy', and 'easy does it'. These are everyday expressions that learners should memorise as whole units.
Common Mistakes
3. In a relaxed way, without anxiety or stress; living or behaving calmly without p
In a relaxed way, without anxiety or stress; living or behaving calmly without pressure.
After retiring, Ziad planned to live easy and spend time with his grandchildren.
live easy: relaxed lifestyle
The friends sat easy on the porch, chatting and laughing until late.
Quinn decided to take the whole summer easy instead of enrolling in extra classes.
take [time] easy: spend without stress
The librarian sat easy in her chair between shifts, reading poetry.
- live easy
- take things easy
- sit easy
- stand easy
- calmly
focuses on emotional state; more formal
- comfortably
suggests physical ease and freedom from hardship
- anxiously
the opposite of living without worry
- restlessly
suggests an inability to relax
Grammar Patterns
live easy
take it easy
sit easy
Usage Note
Common in expressions about lifestyle and attitude ('live easy', 'take things easy'). Closely related to adverb sense 2, but with the focus on emotional calm rather than physical carefulness.
4. In a way that does not involve a harsh or severe punishment; with a forgiving at
In a way that does not involve a harsh or severe punishment; with a forgiving attitude towards someone's mistakes.
The judge went easy on the young driver because it was his first traffic offence.
go easy on [person]: be lenient
Nicholas asked the teacher to go easy on the project deadline since everyone had exams.
The coach went easy on the team after their long bus trip to the match.
The manager agreed to go easy on the late fee for the regular customer.
- go easy on
Grammar Patterns
go easy on + person
Usage Note
Almost always appears in the phrase 'go easy on + person'. You cannot say 'be easy on' with the same meaning — only 'go easy on' works for leniency.
Common Mistakes
5. With calm, soft movements; not in a rough or sudden way, especially when handlin
With calm, soft movements; not in a rough or sudden way, especially when handling fragile objects or delicate situations.
Easy does it — the vase is old and might crack if you pull too hard.
easy does it: gentle handling
The night-shift nurse told the patient to breathe easy while she listened to his chest.
The art student told her friend to go easy when lifting the large canvas.
Easy does it with those scissors — the silk ribbon tears without much force.
- easy does it
- breathe easy
Grammar Patterns
easy does it
breathe easy
verb + easy
Usage Note
Appears most often in the fixed expression 'easy does it', used as a warning to handle something with care. 'Breathe easy' is another common fixed phrase meaning to breathe slowly and calmly.
6. Without any doubt; certainly. Used informally before a verb to emphasise that so
Without any doubt; certainly. Used informally before a verb to emphasise that something is very likely or definitely true.
That restaurant down the street could easy be the best place to eat in town.
could easy be: certainly is (informal)
The repairs on the car could easy cost more than the vehicle itself is worth.
The hike could easy take four hours with lunch stops along the way.
Gabriel's new novel could easy be the most popular book of the summer season.
- could easy be
- could easy cost
- could easy win
- easily
the standard adverb form; use 'could easily be' in writing
- certainly
more formal and direct
- definitely
emphasises strong certainty
Grammar Patterns
could + easy + be/do
be + easy + adjective/comparative
Usage Note
Very informal. The pattern is usually 'could + easy + verb' ('could easy be', 'could easy cost'). In formal writing, use 'easily' or 'certainly' instead. Do not use this sense in academic or professional English.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
All four words describe tasks that do not require much effort, but they highlight different aspects. 'Simple' focuses on the lack of complexity — a simple task has few parts and is easy to understand ('The instructions are simple enough for a child to follow'). 'Effortless' emphasises that the task seems to take no energy at all; it is often used for actions done with natural skill ('Her effortless dance moves amazed the audience'). 'Straightforward' suggests a clear, logical path with no hidden difficulties or surprises ('The application process was straightforward and took only ten minutes'). 'Painless' is informal and describes an experience that causes no trouble or inconvenience ('Switching banks was surprisingly painless'). Choose 'simple' or 'straightforward' when the emphasis is on clarity; use 'effortless' for actions that flow naturally; use 'painless' for everyday tasks you expect to be annoying but turn out to be easy.
Common collocations
Phrases
- nice and easy
- free and easy
- easy to use
- easy to understand
Etymology
The word 'easy' entered Middle English from Anglo-Norman 'aisé', meaning 'comfortable' or 'at ease'. This came from Old French 'aise' (comfort, convenience), which itself probably developed from Latin 'adjacens' — 'lying nearby'. The original Latin sense was physical closeness: something close at hand was convenient and therefore easy to obtain. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from 'nearby and convenient' to 'requiring little effort' in the 14th century, and later to 'free from worry or discomfort' in the 15th century.