easing
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.becoming less strong, difficult, or painful.
v.the present participle of 'ease', describing a reduction in pressure, pain, or intensity.
Simple“The rain is finally easing, so we can go for a walk soon.”
In context“With the tension in the room slowly easing, the negotiators finally felt comfortable enough to discuss the more sensitive clauses of the treaty.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the act of making rules or a difficult situation less strict.
n.the act or process of making a situation less burdensome or a regulation less stringent.
Simple“The easing of travel restrictions meant that families could finally visit each other.”
In context“Economists predicted that a gradual easing of interest rates would encourage small businesses to invest in new equipment over the coming year.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.a specific action by a central bank to put more money into the economy.
n.a technical term for monetary policy where a central bank purchases government bonds to increase the money supply.
Simple“The government used quantitative easing to help the economy grow during the crisis.”
In context“The central bank's reliance on quantitative easing sparked a heated debate among policymakers regarding the long-term risks of inflation and currency devaluation.”
UsageAlmost always appears in the phrase 'quantitative easing'.
Teacher's tipWhile 'easing' is general, in a financial news context, it almost always refers to 'quantitative easing' (QE).
Synonyms
“Underwater data centers could help AI grow while easing some of the pressure on land, energy and water.”
“More than 400,000 people were ordered to move as flood risks remained high despite easing rainfall.”