Meanings
plural eases
- uncountableusuallyLack of difficulty; the ability to do something easily.
He played the ukelele with ease.
3 more examples
The ease of lifting the weight, despite lack of skill, came from her pure strength.
Her young boy lifted a weight with ease too, as that one wasn't too heavy
The ease with which she passed all the exams surprised her.
Synonyms: easiness, facility, lightness · Antonyms: difficulty
- Comfort, a state or quality lacking unpleasantness
- uncountableusuallyFreedom from worry and concern; peace; sometimes (derogatory, archaic) indifference.
The pension set her mind at ease.
1 more example
There is ease in the soul of Slid and there be calms upon the sea; also, there be storms upon the sea and troubles in the soul of Slid, for the gods have many moods.
1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC, page 16Synonyms: comfort, peace, peace of mind
- uncountableusuallyFreedom from embarrassment or awkwardness; grace.
She dealt with the faculty with combined authority and ease.
Synonyms: comfort, peace, aplomb, composure, poise, sangfroid
- Relief, an end to discomfort
- euphemisticobsoleteuncountableusuallyRelease from intestinal discomfort: defecation.
Synonyms: call of nature, easement, big jobs, bowel movement, cack, call of nature, crap, crapping
- uncountableusuallybusinessAdditional space provided to allow greater movement.
Add some ease to the waist measurement.
present singular third person eases · participle present easing · participle past eased · past eased
- transitiveTo free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
He eased his conscience by confessing.
2 more examples
And ſure, although it was invented to eaſe his mynde of griefe, there be a number of caveats therein to forewarne other young gentlemen to foreſtand with good government their folowing yl fortunes; […]
1576, George Whetstone, “The Ortchard of Repentance: […]”, in The Rocke of Regard, […], London: […] [H. Middleton] for Robert Waley, →OCLC; republished in J[ohn] P[ayne] Collier, editor, The Rocke of Regard, […] (Illustrations of Early English Poetry; vol. 2, no. 2), London: Privately printed, [1867?], →OCLC, page 291Elyse Saugstad, a professional skier, wore a backpack equipped with an air bag, a relatively new and expensive part of the arsenal that backcountry users increasingly carry to ease their minds and increase survival odds in case of an avalanche.
2012 December 26, John Branch, “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 Nov 2013 - transitiveTo give respite to (someone).
The provision of extra staff eased their workload.
1 more example
An extra rush-hour train has eased overcrowding of the former 5.39 p.m. to Salisbury; this now leaves at 5.43 and an additional electric service to Alton departs at 5.39 p.m.
1961 October, “The winter timetables of British Railways: Southern Region”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 593–594Synonyms: give someone a break, lay off
- transitiveTo reduce the difficulty of (something).
We had to ease the entry requirements.
1 more example
I want to thank you all for easing my coming out.
1974 April 6, 'Paul', “Personal advertisement”, in Gay Community News, page 8Synonyms: facilitate, simplify
- transitiveTo move (something) slowly and carefully.
He eased the cork from the bottle.
2 more examples
Ease down off boulders; a jump may jar or sprain.
1915 April 28, Enos A. Mills, “Going to the Top”, in The Rocky Mountain Wonderland, Houghton Mifflin, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 18Giant oil-tankers can often be seen easing up and down Milford Haven, where a vast new port has been developed since the late 1950s.
1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 141Antonyms: maneuver
- intransitiveTo lessen in intensity.
The pain eased overnight.
- To reduce speed.
"There's no other traffic on this line. We are 20 minutes ahead of time, so I'm easing back," says Waddicor as he approaches the crossing of HS2.
2025 August 20, Paul Clifton, “A driver's eye view of East West Rail”, in RAIL, number 1042, page 331 more example
But from Northallerton No. 46143 reached 65½ m.p.h. by Otterington, 73 by Thirsk, 79½ by Pilmoor, and 82½ by Alne and was still accelerating when it was decided on the footplate that the train was getting too much ahead of time—and no wonder, with 40 min. allowed for the level 30.0 miles from Northallerton to York!—so that the engine was drastically eased.
1958 December 28, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 852 - archaicslangtransitiveTo take something from (a person), especially by robbery.
Coming up to the thief they eased him of his late acquisitions, which Redmond, restoring to the right owner, bound him over to prosecute the robber at the next assizes.
1865, The Dublin University Magazine, volume 66, page 1581 more example
So I tucked my violin under my arm, and sallied out after the old budgy ragman, determined to ease him of his load at the very first lonesome corner I could track him to.
1876, The Shamrock, volume 14
Synonyms & antonyms
nounLack of difficulty; the ability to do something easily.
nounFreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance, sometimes (derogatory, archaic) idleness, sloth.
nounFreedom from worry and concern; peace; sometimes (derogatory, archaic) indifference.
nounFreedom from financial effort or worry; affluence.
nounFreedom from embarrassment or awkwardness; grace.
nounFollowed by of or from: release from or reduction of pain, hardship, or annoyance.
nounRelease from intestinal discomfort: defecation.
nounA convenience; a luxury.
nounA relief; an easement.
verbTo give respite to (someone).
verbTo reduce the difficulty of (something).
verbTo move (something) slowly and carefully.
verbTo proceed with little effort.
More synonyms by meaning
nounfreedom from difficulty or hardship or effort
nouna freedom from financial difficulty that promotes a comfortable state
nounthe condition of being comfortable or relieved (especially after being relieved of distress)
nounfreedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility)
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Middle Englishesen
- Celtic
- Germanic
- Latinadjacēns“adjacent, neighbouring”
- Vulgar Latin*adjace(m)
- Frankish*ansiju“handle, loophole, eyelet; cup-handle; arms akimbo, elbow room”
- Latinānsa“handle, haft”
- Vulgar Latin*āsia
- Old Frencheise
- Anglo-Normanese“ease”
- Middle Englishese
- Englishease
From Middle English ese, eise, aise, from Anglo-Norman ese (“ease”), from Old French eise, aise (“elbow room; opportunity”), of uncertain and obscure origin. Apparently related to Provençal ais, Italian agio and asio, Sicilian aciu and Portuguese azo. Sometimes ascribed to Vulgar Latin *āsia or *āsium, possibly from Latin ānsa (“handle, haft”) or Frankish *ansiju (“handle, loophole, eyelet; cup-handle; arms akimbo, elbow room”), but more often derived from Vulgar Latin *adjace(m), from Latin adjacēns (“adjacent, neighbouring”), present participle of adjaceō (“lie next to, border on”), though the forms and senses are difficult to trace clearly. Alternatively, possibly from a non-Latin source such as Germanic or Celtic on the basis of the conflicting forms which appear in various Romance languages. Compare Old English īeþe (“easy”), Gothic 𐌰𐌶𐌴𐍄𐌹 (azēti, “ease; pleasure”), *𐌰𐌶𐌴𐍄𐍃 (*azēts, “easy”), Breton eaz, ez (“easy”), Irish adhais (“easy; leisure”). See also eath. The verb is from Middle English esen, ultimately of the same origin.
More words from Middle English, Anglo-Norman, Old French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ῥᾳθυμία
- ῥᾳθυμία (rhāithumía)relaxation
Bulgarian лекота, непринуденост
- лекота (lekota)freedom from effort
- непринуденост (neprinudenost)freedom from effort
- спокойствие (spokojstvie)comfort — see also comfort
- безгрижие (bezgrižie)comfort — see also comfort
- успокоявам (uspokojavam)to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- облекчавам (oblekčavam)to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- облекчавам (oblekčavam)to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- отпускам (otpuskam)to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
Czech pohoda
- pohodacomfort — see also comfort
Esperanto facileco
- facilecoability — see also ability
Finnish taito, kyky
- taitoability — see also ability
- kykyability — see also ability
- rauhallisuusfreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- mukavuusfreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- helppousfreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- helppousfreedom from effort
- mukavuusfreedom from effort
- leporelaxation
- mukavuuscomfort — see also comfort
- lievittääto free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- lievittääto alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- höllätäto alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- keventääto give respite to (someone)
- helpottaato give respite to (someone)
- löysätäto loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
- löysentääto loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
- höllätäto loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
- helpottaato reduce the difficulty of (something)
- hivuttaato move (something) slowly and carefully
- lieventyäto lessen in severity
- helpottaato lessen in severity
French facilité, repos
- facilitéability — see also ability
- reposrelaxation
- abaisserto alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- abrégerto alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- amoindrirto alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- soulagerto alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
German Leichtigkeit, Mühelosigkeit
- Leichtigkeitability — see also ability
- Mühelosigkeitability — see also ability
- Unbeschwertheitfreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- Mußefreedom from effort
- Leichtigkeitfreedom from effort
- Behaglichkeitcomfort — see also comfort
- Bequemlichkeitcomfort — see also comfort
- Leichtigkeitcomfort — see also comfort
- erleichternto free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- beruhigento free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- entlastento free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- lindernto alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- mildernto alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- entlastento give respite to (someone)
- verringernto give respite to (someone)
- lockernto loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
- erleichternto reduce the difficulty of (something)
- lockernto reduce the difficulty of (something)
- Abstriche machen beito reduce the difficulty of (something)
- lockernto move (something) slowly and carefully
Greek διευκολύνω
- διευκολύνω (diefkolýno)to reduce the difficulty of (something)
Hindi सरलता, सहजता
- सरलता (saraltā)ability — see also ability
- सहजता (sahajtā)ability — see also ability
Hungarian jártasság, ügyesség
- jártasságability — see also ability
- ügyességability — see also ability
- rátermettségability — see also ability
- nyugalomfreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- megnyugvásfreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- megkönnyebbülésfreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- könnyebbségfreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- könnyedségfreedom from effort
- jólétrelaxation
- lazításrelaxation
- kikapcsolódásrelaxation
- kényelemcomfort — see also comfort
- könnyítto free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- csillapítto alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- enyhítto alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- megkönnyítto give respite to (someone)
- enyhítto give respite to (someone)
- meglazítto loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
- kilazítto loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
- lazítto loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
- elernyesztto loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
- könnyítto reduce the difficulty of (something)
- megkönnyítto reduce the difficulty of (something)
- csúsztatto move (something) slowly and carefully
Irish éascaíocht, sómas
- éascaíochtability — see also ability
- sómasfreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- aosáidfreedom from effort
- sástachtcomfort — see also comfort
Italian facilità, riposo
- facilitàability — see also ability
- riposorelaxation
- attenuareto alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
Latin habilitas
- habilitasability — see also ability
Māori whakangāwari, whakamauru
- whakangāwarito free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- whakamauruto free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- whakaeaeato alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- whakangāwarito reduce the difficulty of (something)
- whakangāwarito lessen in severity
- mauruto lessen in severity
Polish ułatwiać, ułatwić
- ułatwiaćto reduce the difficulty of (something)
- ułatwićto reduce the difficulty of (something)
Portuguese habilidade, à-vontade
- habilidadeability — see also ability
- à-vontadeability — see also ability
- facilidadeability — see also ability
- confortofreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- comodidadefreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- facilidadefreedom from effort
- confortocomfort — see also comfort
- aliviarto alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
Romanian dexteritate, facilitate
- dexteritateability — see also ability
- facilitateability — see also ability
- liniștefreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- pacefreedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance
- ușurințăfreedom from effort
- ușurarefreedom from effort
- repausrelaxation
- confortcomfort — see also comfort
- alinato free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- ușurato free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- alinato alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- liniștito alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- ușurato reduce the difficulty of (something)
- micșorato lessen in severity
- potolito lessen in severity
- reduceto lessen in severity
Russian лёгкость, непринуждённость
- лёгкость (ljóxkostʹ)ability — see also ability
- непринуждённость (neprinuždjónnostʹ)ability — see also ability
- лёгкость (ljóxkostʹ)freedom from effort
- непринуждённость (neprinuždjónnostʹ)freedom from effort
- облегче́ние (oblexčénije)freedom from effort
- досу́г (dosúg)relaxation
- беззабо́тность (bezzabótnostʹ)relaxation
- пра́здность (prázdnostʹ)relaxation
- о́тдых (ótdyx)relaxation
- споко́йствие (spokójstvije)comfort — see also comfort
- поко́й (pokój)comfort — see also comfort
- успока́ивать (uspokáivatʹ)to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- облегча́ть (oblexčátʹ)to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- облегча́ть (oblexčátʹ)to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
- освобожда́ть (osvoboždátʹ)to give respite to (someone)
- ослабля́ть (oslabljátʹ)to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
- смягча́ть (smjaxčátʹ)to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
- отпуска́ть (otpuskátʹ)to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
- облегча́ть (oblexčátʹ)to reduce the difficulty of (something)
- уменьша́ть (umenʹšátʹ)to lessen in severity
Spanish para facilitar, facilidad
- para facilitarability — see also ability
- facilidadfreedom from effort
- solturafreedom from effort
- solturarelaxation
- relajorelaxation
- aliviarto free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
- aflojarto loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
- acostumbrarto reduce the difficulty of (something)
- mover paulatinamenteto move (something) slowly and carefully
- introducir gradualmenteto move (something) slowly and carefully
- cantearto move (something) slowly and carefully
- soltar lentamenteto move (something) slowly and carefully
- aflojar delicadamenteto move (something) slowly and carefully
- posarto move (something) slowly and carefully
Swedish lätthet
- lätthetability — see also ability
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with ease
Sounds the same
Cite this entry
ease. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ease
“ease.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ease. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ease,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ease.
Source: ease on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.