ease

SayEEZ/iz/UK/iːz/

21 meanings of ease

1
noununcountable
The quality of being simple to do, without trouble or struggle.
Like riding a bike downhill, where you barely need to push.
The dancer moved across the stage with great ease.
He fixed the leaky faucet with ease.
Similareasiness, facility
Oppositedifficulty
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2
noununcountable
A relaxed time of rest, with no work or effort needed.
Like a lazy Sunday with nothing you have to do.
The children spent the long summer days in lazy ease, with nothing to do.
The cabin gave them a weekend of pure ease and rest.
Similarrest, relaxation, leisure, comfort, peace
Oppositetoil, labor, work, exertion
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3
noununcountable
Being free from pain, hardship, and everyday troubles.
Like the calm you feel when a bad headache finally goes away.
With the day's troubles behind him, he sank into a deep ease by the fire.
A warm bath gave her some ease after the long day.
Similarcomfort, peace
Oppositehardship, discomfort, suffering
4
verbtransitive
To take away someone's pain, worry, or stress.
Like a hug that makes a scared child feel calm again.
Her kind words helped ease my worry.
The nurse tried to ease the child's fear before the shot.
Similarrelieve, calm, soothe, allay, alleviate
Oppositeaggravate, heighten, worsen, intensify
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5
verbtransitive
To move something slowly and gently, bit by bit.
Like sliding a full glass slowly across a table so it does not spill.
Slowly ease the boat away from the dock.
He eased the car into the narrow space.
Similarguide, slide, slip, edge, inch
Oppositemaneuver
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6
verbtransitive
To make pain feel less strong or less sharp.
Like putting cool water on a burn to make it hurt less.
These pills ease the pain in her back.
A cold pack can ease the swelling and soreness.
Similarrelieve, soothe, alleviate, lessen, reduce
Oppositeaggravate, worsen, exacerbate, intensify
7
verbintransitive
To slowly become weaker or less strong.
Like a loud noise that slowly fades until you barely hear it.
The rain began to ease by the afternoon.
His fever eased after a good night's sleep.
Similarabate, subside, lessen, relent, diminish
Oppositeintensify, worsen, escalate, heighten
8
verbtransitive
To make a task easier or less hard to do.
Like a ramp that makes pushing a cart up much easier.
The new tools ease the job of fixing the roof.
A good map can ease the trip across the city.
Similarsimplify, facilitate, smooth, expedite
Oppositecomplicate, hinder, hamper, impede
9
verbintransitive
To move along smoothly without much effort.
Like a boat gliding across calm water without anyone rowing hard.
The boats ease past the harbor wall at sunset.
He eased into his new job without any trouble.
Similarglide, slide, slip, cruise
10
noununcountable
A calm, confident way of behaving without feeling awkward.
Like a person who feels at home anywhere and never seems nervous.
She spoke to the large crowd with surprising ease.
The new student joined the conversation with the ease of an old friend.
Similarpoise, composure, aplomb, sangfroid
Oppositeawkwardness, embarrassment, self-consciousness
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11
noununcountable
A peaceful state of mind, free from worry.
Like the calm feeling after you finish a big test with nothing left to worry about.
With the bills paid, she felt a deep sense of ease.
Knowing the kids were safe gave him real ease at last.
Similarpeace, comfort
Oppositeanxiety, worry, unease, disquiet
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12
noununcountable
A comfortable life with enough money to avoid worry.
Like having a full piggy bank, so you never feel scared about money.
Years of careful saving let them live in ease, never anxious about money.
His savings gave him a comfortable ease in his old age.
Similarwealth, riches, abundance, affluence, opulence
Oppositepoverty, hardship, want
13
verbtransitive
To give someone a short rest or relief from effort or strain.
A cool drink can ease a tired traveler.
Two extra helpers at the shop eased the tired workers during the holiday rush.
Similarrelieve, refresh
Oppositeburden
14
noununcountable
The end of or a drop in pain, trouble, or something annoying.
Like turning off a loud noise that was hurting your ears.
The medicine brought him ease from his headache.
Finishing the exam gave her great ease from weeks of worry.
Similarrelief, comfort, solace, consolation, alleviation
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15
noununcountable
Freedom from a duty, a rule, or being stuck in a tight spot.
The officer said, "At ease," and the tired soldiers could finally stop standing so stiffly.
The band members stood at ease while their leader gave a short speech.
Similarfreedom, relief, release
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16
noununcountable
Extra room in clothing so the body can move freely.
Like leaving extra space in a box so things fit without being squeezed.
The jacket has enough ease to fit a sweater underneath.
These pants are cut with extra ease around the hips.
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17
verbtransitive
To let out a rope a little so it is not so tight.
Like slowly letting out a kite string so it does not snap.
Ease the rope slowly so the boat does not jerk.
He eased the line to lower the sail gently.
Similarslacken, loosen, relax, release
Oppositetighten, tauten
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18
nounobsoleteuncountable
Something comfortable or luxurious that makes life more pleasant.
Like a soft chair and a warm fire that make a home cozy.
The new house offered every ease a family could want.
Their wealth bought them every ease that money could supply.
Similaramenity
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19
nounobsoleteuncountable
A relief that takes away trouble or pain.
Similaralleviation, mitigation
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20
nounobsoleteeuphemisticuncountable
A polite word for emptying the bowels.
Similardefecation, dump, poop, crap
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21
verbarchaictransitive
To take something from a person, usually by stealing.
Like a sneaky hand that slips money out of your pocket.
The thieves planned to ease the merchant of his gold.
Coming up to the thief they eased him of his late acquisitions, which Redmond, restoring to the right owner, bound him over to prosecute the robber at the next assizes.
1865, The Dublin University MagazineHere, eased means relieved someone of things by taking them away.
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Practice

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Origin

This word came into Middle English from Old French "eise" or "aise," meaning "elbow room" or "opportunity." Its exact origin is unknown, and it may have come from Latin or possibly from a Germanic or Celtic source.