ease

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /iːz/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

Singular ease

Plural none

(uncountable)

1. The state of being comfortable or relaxed.

   She enjoyed the ease of living in a house where the servants did all the work.

2. Free from pain, worry, etc.

   His mind was at ease when he took the test. He knew he had studied well.

3. Free from effort, difficulty or hardship.

   He passed all the exams with ease.

4. Doing something without much effort.

   He played the piano with ease.

5. To be free from money problems.

   After winning the lottery, she lived a life of ease.

6. Relaxation, rest and leisure.

   We took our ease on the patio.

Synonyms

• comfort
• peace
• peace of mind
• dexterity
• skill
• leisure
• to relax
• to rest

Related words

• at ease
• easy

Verb

Plain form ease

Third-person singular eases

Past tense eased

Past participle eased

Present participle easing

1. (transitive) To free or lessen (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc.

   He eased his conscience telling her what he had done wrong.

   He loosened his shoe to ease the pain.

2. (transitive) To loosen or relax the tension on (something).

   We eased the rope, then lowered the sail.

3. (transitive) To reduce the difficulty of (something).

   We had to ease the entry requirements.

4. (transitive) To move (something) slowly and carefully.

   He eased the car into the parking space.

Synonyms

• alleviate, lessen, reduce
• (informal) give someone a break, lay off
• (loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) loosen, relax, slacken