ease
♦ ease /'iːz/ (eases easing eased)
1 [PHRASE] PHR after V
If you do something with ease, you do it easily, without difficulty or effort.
...the ease with which young people could find work.
≠ difficulty
2 [N-UNCOUNT] N of n
If you talk about the ease of a particular activity, you are referring to the way that it has been made easier to do, or to the fact that it is already easy to do.
For ease of reference, only the relevant extracts of the regulations are included.
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
Ease is the state of being very comfortable and able to live as you want, without any worries or problems.
She lived a life of ease.
= comfort
4 [VERB] V, V n, V-ing
If something unpleasant eases or if you ease it, it is reduced in degree, speed, or intensity.
Tensions had eased...
I gave him some brandy to ease the pain.
...editorials calling for the easing of sanctions.
5 [VERB] V way prep/adv, V prep/adv, V n prep/adv, V pron-refl adv/prep, V n with adj
If you ease your way somewhere or ease somewhere, you move there slowly, carefully, and gently. If you ease something somewhere, you move it there slowly, carefully, and gently.
I eased my way towards the door...
She eased back into the chair and nodded...
He eased his foot off the accelerator...
Leaphorn eased himself silently upward...
I eased open the door.
6 [PHRASE] v-link PHR, PHR after v
If you are at ease, you are feeling confident and relaxed, and are able to talk to people without feeling nervous or anxious. If you put someone at their ease, you make them feel at ease.
It is essential to feel at ease with your therapist...
Both men were unwelcoming, making little attempt to put Kathryn or her companions at their ease.
7 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR, PHR after v, oft PHR with n
If you are ill at ease, you feel rather uncomfortable, anxious, or worried.
He appeared embarrassed and ill at ease with the sustained applause that greeted him.ease off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
If something eases off, or a person or thing eases it off, it is reduced in degree, speed, or intensity.
These days, the pressure has eased off...
Kelly eased off his pace as they reached the elevator.ease up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If something eases up, it is reduced in degree, speed, or intensity.
The rain had eased up...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you ease up, you start to make less effort.
He told supporters not to ease up even though he's leading in the presidential race...
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P on n
If you ease up on someone or something, your behaviour or attitude towards them becomes less severe or strict. (INFORMAL)
Officials have eased up on the press restrictions.ill at ease
also ill-at-ease
see ease
1 [PHRASE] PHR after V
If you do something with ease, you do it easily, without difficulty or effort.
...the ease with which young people could find work.
≠ difficulty
2 [N-UNCOUNT] N of n
If you talk about the ease of a particular activity, you are referring to the way that it has been made easier to do, or to the fact that it is already easy to do.
For ease of reference, only the relevant extracts of the regulations are included.
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
Ease is the state of being very comfortable and able to live as you want, without any worries or problems.
She lived a life of ease.
= comfort
4 [VERB] V, V n, V-ing
If something unpleasant eases or if you ease it, it is reduced in degree, speed, or intensity.
Tensions had eased...
I gave him some brandy to ease the pain.
...editorials calling for the easing of sanctions.
5 [VERB] V way prep/adv, V prep/adv, V n prep/adv, V pron-refl adv/prep, V n with adj
If you ease your way somewhere or ease somewhere, you move there slowly, carefully, and gently. If you ease something somewhere, you move it there slowly, carefully, and gently.
I eased my way towards the door...
She eased back into the chair and nodded...
He eased his foot off the accelerator...
Leaphorn eased himself silently upward...
I eased open the door.
6 [PHRASE] v-link PHR, PHR after v
If you are at ease, you are feeling confident and relaxed, and are able to talk to people without feeling nervous or anxious. If you put someone at their ease, you make them feel at ease.
It is essential to feel at ease with your therapist...
Both men were unwelcoming, making little attempt to put Kathryn or her companions at their ease.
7 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR, PHR after v, oft PHR with n
If you are ill at ease, you feel rather uncomfortable, anxious, or worried.
He appeared embarrassed and ill at ease with the sustained applause that greeted him.ease off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
If something eases off, or a person or thing eases it off, it is reduced in degree, speed, or intensity.
These days, the pressure has eased off...
Kelly eased off his pace as they reached the elevator.ease up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If something eases up, it is reduced in degree, speed, or intensity.
The rain had eased up...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you ease up, you start to make less effort.
He told supporters not to ease up even though he's leading in the presidential race...
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P on n
If you ease up on someone or something, your behaviour or attitude towards them becomes less severe or strict. (INFORMAL)
Officials have eased up on the press restrictions.ill at ease
also ill-at-ease
see ease