English Reference
Adverb

effortlessly

adv. manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈɛfɝtɫəsɫi/ UK /ˈɛfətləsli/ ef·fort·less·ly

adv.in a way that looks very easy. You use this when someone does something well without needing to try hard.

adv.in a manner requiring no apparent exertion or struggle. Often describes the performance of a skill or the completion of a task.


SIMPLE

She swims effortlessly across the pool.

CONTEXTUAL

The experienced pianist played the difficult piece effortlessly, making it look like the simplest song in the world.

COMPLEX

The athlete glided effortlessly toward the finish line, maintaining a pace that left his competitors visibly exhausted and struggling to keep up.

Usage

Manner adverb — typically follows the verb it modifies or the direct object.

He shuffles in from a side room, effortlessly cool in his dog-print designer shirt , external , and leads us outside.

BBC News· 1 Sept 2026

We’ve seen his arms transform effortlessly into weapons.

Ars Technica· 28 Aug 2026

From effortless + -ly.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated