- 1 not difficult; done or obtained without a lot of effort or problems an easy exam/job He didn't make it easy for me to leave. Their house isn't the easiest place to get to. vegetables that are easy to grow Several schools are within easy reach (= not far away). It can't be easy for her, on her own with the children. It's easy for you to tell me to keep calm, but you're not in my position. It would be the easiest thing in the world to fall in love with him. opposite hard Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsbe, look, seem, … adverbextremely, fairly, very, … prepositionfor phrasesall too easy, as easy as 1, 2, 3, as easy as ABC, … See full entry See related entries: Describing work
- 2 comfortable, relaxed and not worried I'll agree to anything for an easy life. I don't feel easy about letting the kids go out alone. opposite uneasy
- 3[only before noun] open to attack; not able to defend yourself She's an easy target for their criticisms. The baby fish are easy prey for birds.
- 4[only before noun] pleasant and friendly synonym easy-going He had a very easy manner. opposite awkward See related entries: Friendly
- 5[not usually before noun] (informal, disapproving) (of women) willing to have sex with many different people see also easily Word OriginMiddle English (also in the sense ‘comfortable, tranquil’): from Old French aisie, past participle of aisier ‘put at ease, facilitate’, from the phrase a aise ‘at ease’.Extra examples Doing all that while injured isn’t exactly easy. I found the exam quite easy. It is easy enough to see how it happened. It is the easiest thing in the world to blame your parents. It looks deceptively easy to hit the ball into the hole. It was all too easy to forget why we had been sent there. Life is getting easier for us. Playing tennis is not as easy as it looks. The written test was ridiculously easy. These changes should make your job easier. We want to make it as easy as possible for members to participate. Writing is not easy for her. a book designed for quick and easy reference He didn’t make it easy for me to leave. His easy charm soon won her over. I don’t feel easy about letting the kids go out alone. I want to plant some vegetables that are easy to grow. I’ll agree to anything for an easy life. It can’t be easy for her, on her own with the children. It was a really easy exam. It’s easy for you to tell me to keep calm, but you’re not in my position. Several schools are within easy reach. Their house isn’t the easiest place to get to. Their success at the game did not make for an easy relationship off court. There are no easy answers to a problem like this. This encyclopedia is designed for quick and easy reference.Idioms
adjective jump to other results
BrE BrE//ˈiːzi//; NAmE NAmE//ˈiːzi//
(easier, easiest) Describing work, Friendly(informal) very easy or very easily Fooling him was as easy as falling off a log.
money that you get without having to work very hard for it
(informal) pleasant to listen to or look at The room was painted in soft pastels that were easy on the eye.
(informal) a person that you can easily persuade to do something, especially to give you money. Unfortunately, my father is no soft touch.
informal; relaxed Life was never going to be so free and easy again.
to have no difficulties or problems He’s had an easy time of it since he married Lucy.
(informal) to experience/not experience difficulties when you are doing something; to make things difficult/easy for somebody He will be given a rough ride at the party conference. (informal) used to say that you do not have a strong opinion when somebody has offered you a choice ‘Do you want to watch this or the news?’ ‘Oh, I'm easy. It's up to you.’
(old-fashioned) (of a woman) willing to have sex with anyone
enjoying a comfortable way of life with plenty of money
(often disapproving) a choice which is thought to be easier because it involves less effort, difficulty, etc. They are anxious that the new course should not be seen as a soft option. He decided to take the easy option and give them what they wanted.
to end a difficult situation by choosing the simplest solution even if it is not the best one He took the easy way out and didn’t go to the meeting.
close to something The house is within easy reach of schools and sports facilities. Verona and Padua are both within easy reach for day trips.
Check pronunciation: easy
