easier; easiest
1
a
: causing or involving little difficulty or discomfort
within easy reach
b
: requiring or indicating little effort, thought, or reflection
easy clichés
2
a
: not severe : lenient
hopes they'll be easy on him
b
: not steep or abrupt
easy slopes
c
: not difficult to endure or undergo
an easy penalty
d
: readily taken advantage of
an easy target for takeovers
an easy mark for con men
e(1)
: readily available
easy pickings
(2)
: plentiful in supply at low or declining interest rates
easy money
(3)
: less in demand and usually lower in price
bonds were easier
f
: pleasant
easy listening
g
: sexually promiscuous
3
a
: marked by peace and comfort
the easy life of a courtier
b
: not hurried or strenuous
an easy pace
4
a
: free from pain, annoyance, or anxiety
did all she could to make him easier
b
: marked by social ease
an air of easy assurance
c
: easygoing
an easy disposition
5
a
: giving ease, comfort, or relaxation
b
: not burdensome or straitened
bought on easy terms
c
: fitting comfortably : allowing freedom of movement
easy jackets
d
: marked by ready facility
an easy flowing style
e
: felt or attained to readily, naturally, and spontaneously
an easy smile
easiness
noun
easier; easiest
1
: easily sense 1
promises come easy
2
: without undue speed or excitement
take it easy
3
a
: without worry or care
rest easy
b
: without a severe penalty
got off easy
c
: without violent movement
the boat rode easy
4
: easily sense 2
cost $500 easy
Synonyms
Examples of easy in a Sentence
Adjective
It's surprisingly easy to use.
It was an easy decision to make.
They scored an easy goal late in the game.
It wasn't easy for her to leave home.
There are no easy solutions to this problem.
He's had an easy life.
This new schedule should make our lives easier.
I hope this will make things easier for you.
I won't feel easy until I know that she arrived safely.
Adverb
He just wants to take life easy now.
we can make the trip in four hours easy
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Christine Byrne, Mph, SELF, 13 Nov. 2023
What’s also making the game easier, allowing for more ball movement, is the speed at which the Mavericks are playing.
—Doyle Rader, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
By the end of my first week, however, the mathematics of getting dressed had become palpably easier.
—Eliza Dumais, Vogue, 13 Nov. 2023
The road to their first win since Oct. 31 does not get any easier, with their next game in Denver, where the Clippers have not won since December 2020.
—Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2023
Mexican lager counters the beef’s bold heat not by being equally big, but by being unshakable, easy, and mild—the perfect palate cleanser.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2023
These nine types of boughs are readily available at local garden centers and are even easier to decorate your home with.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2023
Coming in hot with all of its golden glory is the Merit Beauty Bronze Balm — a bronzer that’s easy to hold thanks to its ovoid shape and even easier to blend due to its ultra-creamy formula.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 12 Nov. 2023
While wearable devices don’t generally require much power, wearables must be, well, easy to wear.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Nov. 2023
Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2023
The tree also comes with a metal stand wrapped in stylish burlap, which makes setting it up so easy.
—Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 7 Nov. 2023
The single control button makes operating the mug easy; this one button turns the mug on and off as well as sets the temperature.
—Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2023
All trees come pre-lit in a variety of lighting options to make decorating easy, and the quick standard shipping ensures plenty of time to enjoy your holiday tree before the season slips away.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2023
No, that would be far too easy, and King Gizzard doesn’t do easy.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 Oct. 2023
Don’t set the bar too high, just start out easy and do the right thing ...
—Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2023
The refugees were lured there by propaganda from Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who cynically engineered a geopolitical crisis, promising migrants easy passage over the Polish border into the European Union.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Sep. 2023
The result is a cookie that's the perfect balance of salty and sweet and goes down easy.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2023
See More
Adjective
Yogurt Speaking of foods that go down easily, yogurt is easy to swallow, cool, and relatively bland.
—Christine Byrne, Mph, SELF, 13 Nov. 2023
What’s also making the game easier, allowing for more ball movement, is the speed at which the Mavericks are playing.
—Doyle Rader, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
By the end of my first week, however, the mathematics of getting dressed had become palpably easier.
—Eliza Dumais, Vogue, 13 Nov. 2023
The road to their first win since Oct. 31 does not get any easier, with their next game in Denver, where the Clippers have not won since December 2020.
—Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2023
Mexican lager counters the beef’s bold heat not by being equally big, but by being unshakable, easy, and mild—the perfect palate cleanser.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2023
These nine types of boughs are readily available at local garden centers and are even easier to decorate your home with.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2023
Coming in hot with all of its golden glory is the Merit Beauty Bronze Balm — a bronzer that’s easy to hold thanks to its ovoid shape and even easier to blend due to its ultra-creamy formula.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 12 Nov. 2023
While wearable devices don’t generally require much power, wearables must be, well, easy to wear.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Nov. 2023
Adverb
The soft armrests make getting in and out easy and there’s even a cup holder for your favorite drink.
—Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2023
The tree also comes with a metal stand wrapped in stylish burlap, which makes setting it up so easy.
—Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 7 Nov. 2023
The single control button makes operating the mug easy; this one button turns the mug on and off as well as sets the temperature.
—Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2023
All trees come pre-lit in a variety of lighting options to make decorating easy, and the quick standard shipping ensures plenty of time to enjoy your holiday tree before the season slips away.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2023
No, that would be far too easy, and King Gizzard doesn’t do easy.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 Oct. 2023
Don’t set the bar too high, just start out easy and do the right thing ...
—Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2023
The refugees were lured there by propaganda from Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who cynically engineered a geopolitical crisis, promising migrants easy passage over the Polish border into the European Union.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Sep. 2023
The result is a cookie that's the perfect balance of salty and sweet and goes down easy.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'easy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English esy, from Anglo-French eisé, aasié, past participle of eiser, aaisier to ease, from a- ad- (from Latin ad-) + eise ease
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of easy was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing easy
Dictionary Entries Near easy
Cite this Entry
“Easy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/easy. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
easy
1 of 2 adjective
easier; easiest
1
: not hard to do or get : not difficult
an easy lesson
2
a
: not hard to please : lenient
an easy teacher
b
: not steep
easy slopes
3
a
: free from pain, trouble, or worry
b
: not hurried : leisurely
an easy pace
4
: not false or strained : natural
an easy manner
5
: giving relaxation and comfort
an easy chair
easiness
noun
easy
2 of 2 adverb
easier; easiest
1
: easily sense 1
take life easy
2
: with slow care : cautiously
go easy
More from Merriam-Webster on easy
Nglish: Translation of easy for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of easy for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share