# easy

/ˈizi/ (US) · /ˈiːzi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/easy
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. not difficult

adjective · CEFR A1

not difficult to do or understand; requiring little effort.

For teachers: requiring minimal effort, skill, or cognitive resources to accomplish or comprehend.

- The exam was very easy, so I finished it twenty minutes early.
- The software provides an easy interface for novice users while maintaining powerful features for professionals.

### 2. relaxed

adjective · CEFR B1

feeling comfortable and not worried.

For teachers: characterised by a lack of stress, constraint, or formality; relaxed in manner.

- She has an easy smile that makes everyone feel welcome.
- After years of high-pressure corporate work, he finally enjoyed an easy life in the countryside.

### 3. sexually available

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal · Vulgar

a person who is very willing to have sex with anyone.

For teachers: consenting readily to sexual activity; typically used as a derogatory descriptor for women.

- He made a rude comment about her being easy just because she was friendly.
- The character was unfairly labelled as easy by her peers, reflecting the double standards of the era.

Teaching tip: This sense is often offensive and sexist; learners should be aware of its negative connotations and avoid using it to describe people.

### 4. financial stability

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

having enough money to live comfortably.

For teachers: pertaining to a state of financial comfort or a market where capital is readily available.

- The family lived in easy circumstances thanks to their successful business.
- The central bank's policy led to easy credit conditions, encouraging businesses to expand despite the economic uncertainty.

### 5. carefully or slowly

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to do something gently or with caution.

For teachers: in a relaxed, careful, or gradual manner; often used in imperative constructions.

- Take it easy while your leg is still healing from the injury.
- Go easy on the salt; the chef already seasoned the soup quite heavily before it left the kitchen.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrasal expressions 'take it easy' or 'go easy on'.

## Examples

- The math test is very easy.
- Finding the hotel is easy because it is the tallest building in the city center.
- While the initial setup of the software is relatively easy, mastering the advanced features requires several weeks of dedicated practice and technical support.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.