English Reference

Word

ease

US/ˈiz/

UK/ˈiːz/

Definitions

01lack of difficulty

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the ability to do something without much effort.

n. the quality of being easy to perform or accomplish; absence of difficulty.

“She passed the driving test with ease because she had practiced every day.”

“The athlete cleared the final hurdle with such ease that the spectators were left wondering if he had even reached his full speed.”

Synonyms

effortlessnesssimplicity

02comfort

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain or worry.

n. freedom from pain, worry, or constraint; a state of physical or mental comfort.

“He lived a life of ease after retiring from his successful business.”

“Despite the formal setting of the gala, the host's natural charm put all the guests at ease immediately.”

03to make easier

B1 · Intermediate

v. to make a problem or a feeling of pain less difficult or severe.

v. to alleviate or lessen the intensity of something unpleasant, such as pain, tension, or a difficult situation.

“The doctor gave him some medicine to ease the pain in his back.”

“The central bank lowered interest rates in an attempt to ease the financial pressure on small business owners during the recession.”

Antonyms

04to move carefully

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to move something slowly and gently into a position.

v. to move something with care and precision, often to avoid damage or to fit into a tight space.

“He eased the large sofa through the narrow doorway.”

“The pilot eased the aircraft onto the runway, ensuring a smooth landing despite the challenging crosswinds.”

Antonyms

05to loosen

C1 · Advanced Formal

v. to make a rope or a rule less tight.

v. to slacken tension on a physical line or to relax the strictness of a regulation.

“The government decided to ease the travel restrictions next month.”

“The captain ordered the crew to ease the sheets to catch the shifting wind more effectively as they rounded the cape.”

Synonyms

loosenslackenrelax

Antonyms

06to lessen in intensity

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to become less strong or less active.

v. to diminish in pressure, speed, or intensity; often used with 'off'.

“We waited for the rain to ease off before we went for a walk.”

“Market analysts expect the inflation rate to ease slightly over the next quarter as supply chain issues are resolved.”

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ease” in context.

Verb

01. ease transition

“The new mentor program is designed to ease the transition for students entering university.”

verb + noun

Real-World Examples

“Rain is likely at times across much of the UK, but will still fall below the amount required to help ease drought hit-parts of England .”
BBC News 11 Oct 2026
“If walking, gentle stretching and other exercise eases the tightness; it’s probably muscular and nothing dangerous, says Cheng.”
The Guardian 11 Oct 2026
“It acknowledges the effort required to quit and the ease of falling back into comfort.”
Slangipedia 10 Oct 2026
“She eased past Esme Morgan and Leah Williamson with alarming ease and her shot from range looked to have beaten Hannah Hampton, but struck the bar.”
The Guardian 9 Oct 2026

Etymology

From Middle English ese, eise, aise, from Anglo-Norman ese (“ease”), from Old French eise, aise (“elbow room; opportunity”), of uncertain and obscure origin. Apparently related to Provençal ais, Italian agio and asio, Sicilian aciu and Portuguese azo. Sometimes ascribed to Vulgar Latin āsia or āsium, possibly from Latin ānsa (“handle, haft”) or Frankish ansiju (“handle, loophole, eyelet; cup-handle; arms akimbo, elbow room”), but more often derived from Vulgar Latin adjace(m), from Latin adjacēns (“adjacent, neighbouring”), present participle of adjaceō (“lie next to, border on”), though the forms and senses are difficult to trace clearly. Alternatively, possibly from a non-Latin source such as Germanic or Celtic on the basis of the conflicting forms which appear in various Romance languages. Compare Old English īeþe (“easy”), Gothic 𐌰𐌶𐌴𐍄𐌹 (azēti, “ease; pleasure”), 𐌰𐌶𐌴𐍄𐍃 (azēts, “easy”), Breton eaz, ez (“easy”), Irish adhais (“easy; leisure”). See also eath. The verb is from Middle English esen, ultimately of the same origin.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Domain

Nautical

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
Frequency
Common
Level
C1 · AdvancedOxford
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/ease

English Reference