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easy

Pronunciation: /ˈiːzi/

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Definition of easy

adjective (easier, easiest)

  • 1achieved without great effort; presenting few difficulties:an easy way of retrieving information
  • 2(of a period of time or way of life) free from worries or problems:promises of an easy life in the New World
  • (of a person) lacking anxiety or awkwardness; relaxed:her easy and agreeable manner he never felt easy with her
  • 3 [attributive] (of an object of attack or criticism) having no defence; vulnerable:as a taxi driver he was an easy target
  • informal, derogatory (of a woman) very receptive to sexual advances:her reputation at school for being easy

adverb

archaic or US
  • without difficulty or effort:we all scared real easy in those days

exclamation

  • be careful:easy, girl—you’ll knock me over!

Phrases

be easier said than done

be more easily talked about than put into practice:going on an economy drive is easier said than done

(as) easy as pie

see pie1.

easy come, easy go

used especially in spoken English to indicate that a relationship or possession acquired without effort may be abandoned or lost without regret.

easy does it

used especially in spoken English to advise someone to approach a task carefully and slowly: with father’s wine in the back I mustn’t drive too fast, so easy does it

easy on the eye (or ear)

informal pleasant to look at (or listen to): a charming village that is easy on the eye

go (or be) easy on

informal
  • 1refrain from being harsh with or critical of (someone): go easy on him, Rory, he’s only little
  • 2be sparing in one’s use or consumption of:go easy on fatty foods

have it easy

informal have no difficulties; be fortunate: they have had it easy for too long and have become complacent

I'm easy

informal said by someone when offered a choice to indicate that they have no particular preference.

of easy virtue

dated or humorous (of a woman) sexually promiscuous: she’s cheap, a woman of easy virtue

sleep (or rest) easy

go to sleep without (or be untroubled by) worries:this insurance policy will let you rest easy

stand easy!

Military used to instruct soldiers standing at ease that they may relax their attitude further.

take the easy way out

extricate oneself from a difficult situation by choosing the simplest rather than the most honourable course of action: she had taken the easy way out by returning the keys without a message

take it easy

  • 1proceed in a calm and relaxed manner.
  • 2make little effort; rest.

Derivatives

easiness

noun

Origin:

Middle English (also in the sense 'comfortable, tranquil'): from Old French aisie, past participle of aisier 'put at ease, facilitate' (see ease)

Spelling rule

If a word ends in a consonant plus -y, change the -y to an -i before adding any ending (unless the ending already begins with an -i): (easier, easiest).

easy in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of easy in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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