ease up on
phrasal verb
eased up on; easing up on; eases up on
1
: to treat (someone) in a less harsh or demanding way
The students might respond better if the teacher eased up on them a little.
2
: to apply less pressure to (something)
ease up on the accelerator
3
: to do or use less of (something)
My doctor told me I should ease up on fatty foods.
Examples of ease up on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Badie was the lone Bronco in the vicinity but clearly eased up on the play when the whistles blew.
—
Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2026
The Houthis had eased up on the number of attacks throughout 2025, and opted to suspend the onslaught entirely in November after Israel and Hamas came to a ceasefire in Gaza.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 15 Jan. 2026
This is not the time to ease up on attendance matters, the report said.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Someone else urged the OP to ease up on her friend and try to look at the situation differently.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ease up on
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Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2026
The Houthis had eased up on the number of attacks throughout 2025, and opted to suspend the onslaught entirely in November after Israel and Hamas came to a ceasefire in Gaza.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 15 Jan. 2026
This is not the time to ease up on attendance matters, the report said.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Someone else urged the OP to ease up on her friend and try to look at the situation differently.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ease up on
Cite this Entry
“Ease up on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ease%20up%20on. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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