leisurely

1 of 3

adverb

lei·​sure·​ly ˈlē-zhər-lē 

ˈle-, 

ˈlā-

: without haste : deliberately

leisurely

2 of 3

adjective

: characterized by leisure : unhurried

a leisurely pace

leisureliness noun

leisureliness

3 of 3

noun

lei·​sure·​li·​ness

-lēnə̇s, 

-lin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being leisurely

elegance, urbanity, a quill-pen leisureliness … are not much valued in our day

—Louis Kronenberger

broad streets, an almost southern leisureliness, and fewer tall buildings than are seen in most cities

—American Guide Series: Indiana

Synonyms of leisurely

Adverb

• slowly

Adjective

• slow
• unhurried

Examples of leisurely in a Sentence

Adverb

the old hound dog leisurely sauntered over to his water bowl to take a drink

Adjective

They strolled along at a leisurely pace.

proceeding in a leisurely fashion

After a leisurely lunch, we went to see a movie.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Popular outings include leisurely walks through Central Park or along the High Line, catching a Broadway show, taking in skyline views from a rooftop bar, or exploring the waterfront. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2026

More than 200 wine enthusiasts from across the region travel to the winery, paddleboards in tow, to spend the afternoon leisurely floating around, sipping locally made wine. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Adjective

What was once a leisurely watch becomes the grandest source of stress. — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Later, slow down with a leisurely dinner at Craft Bistro, where steak, seafood, burgers, and pasta are served inside a historic downtown theater. — Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1604, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

leisurely

adjective

lei·​sure·​ly

ˈlēzh-ər-lē, 

ˈlezh-, 

ˈlāzh-

: characterized by leisure : unhurried

a leisurely pace

leisureliness noun

leisurely adverb