Word
effortlessly
Phoneticsef·fort·less·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɛfɝtɫəsɫi/
UK/ˈɛfətləsli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
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.
Examples
“She swims effortlessly across the pool.”
“The experienced pianist played the difficult piece effortlessly, making it look like the simplest song in the world.”
“The athlete glided effortlessly toward the finish line, maintaining a pace that left his competitors visibly exhausted and struggling to keep up.”
Examples
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.
Real-World Examples
“He shuffles in from a side room, effortlessly cool in his dog-print designer shirt , external , and leads us outside.” “We’ve seen his arms transform effortlessly into weapons.” Etymology
From effortless + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/effortlessly