leisurely

1 of 2

adverb

lei·​sure·​ly ˈlē-zhər-lē How to pronounce leisurely (audio)
ˈle-
ˈlā-
Synonyms of leisurely
: without haste : deliberately

leisurely

2 of 2

adjective

: characterized by leisure : unhurried
a leisurely pace
leisureliness noun

Synonyms of leisurely

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
Walk leisurely through the cloisters, sit on the terrace, and finish with a walk through Tryon Park. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026 Travelers can leisurely meander the village's four blocks, stopping at wineries and the country's only museum dedicated to Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote famous fairytales like The Little Mermaid. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Adjective
Before a night out filling your belly with local grub in the Old Port (which is a leisurely 20 minutes away on foot), hit the Five of Clubs bar for a seasonal drink like the cantaloupe- and lemon-laced Melancholia, along with half a dozen oysters. Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 7 Sep. 2026 In lower Manhattan and beyond — caught by paparazzi — he can be seen out and about in big sunglasses and tiny shorts, taking leisurely strolls with his fiancée, Zoë Kravitz. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leisurely

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leisurely was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leisurely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leisurely. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

leisurely

adjective
lei·​sure·​ly
ˈlēzh-ər-lē
ˈlezh-
ˈlāzh-
: characterized by leisure : unhurried
a leisurely pace
leisureliness noun
leisurely adverb
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