ease
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.the ability to do something without much effort.
n.the quality of being easy to perform or accomplish; absence of difficulty.
Simple“She passed the driving test with ease because she had practiced every day.”
In context“The athlete cleared the final hurdle with such ease that the spectators were left wondering if he had even reached his full speed.”
SynonymseffortlessnesssimplicityAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“He lived a life of ease after retiring from his successful business.”
In context“Despite the formal setting of the gala, the host's natural charm put all the guests at ease immediately.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 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.
Simple“The doctor gave him some medicine to ease the pain in his back.”
In context“The central bank lowered interest rates in an attempt to ease the financial pressure on small business owners during the recession.”
- 04 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.
Simple“He eased the large sofa through the narrow doorway.”
In context“The pilot eased the aircraft onto the runway, ensuring a smooth landing despite the challenging crosswinds.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The government decided to ease the travel restrictions next month.”
In context“The captain ordered the crew to ease the sheets to catch the shifting wind more effectively as they rounded the cape.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to become less strong or less active.
v.to diminish in pressure, speed, or intensity; often used with 'off'.
Simple“We waited for the rain to ease off before we went for a walk.”
In context“Market analysts expect the inflation rate to ease slightly over the next quarter as supply chain issues are resolved.”
Usage ease the pain · ease transition
“Hormone therapy can ease menopausal symptoms, but some don’t choose this route.”
“But while using fewer renewables could ease pressure on system costs, it risks slowing the pace of emissions cuts.”
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.