easily

easily — adverb

1. happening or being done in a smooth way that needs very little extra time or har

1.adverbA2
Definition

happening or being done in a smooth way that needs very little extra time or hard work.

Example

Ayana solved the puzzle easily, finishing in under five minutes.

verb + easily for effortless action

The heavy suitcase lifted easily once Niran emptied out the books.

Common collocations
  • solve easily
  • find easily
  • lift easily
  • pass easily
  • win easily
Synonyms
  • effortlessly

    slightly more formal; emphasises the absence of struggle

  • smoothly

    focuses on the lack of obstacles or interruptions

  • readily

    can mean 'easily' but also carries a sense of willingness

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

verb + easily

easily + verb

Common Mistakes

The homework was easily' (using 'easily' after a linking verb).
The homework was easy.' or 'I finished the homework easily.
'easily' is an adverb and cannot replace the adjective 'easy' after 'be'.

2. used to say that something is definitely true, especially when comparing it to o

2.adverbB1
Definition

used to say that something is definitely true, especially when comparing it to others and stating which one stands out the most.

Example

That restaurant is easily the best place to eat in this neighbourhood.

easily + the + superlative (best)

This is easily the most difficult exam the students have faced all year.

Common collocations
  • easily the best
  • easily the most
  • easily the worst
  • easily the largest
Synonyms
  • undoubtedly

    stronger certainty; less common in everyday speech

  • definitely

    more emphatic and common in conversation

  • clearly

    emphasises the obviousness of the judgement

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

easily + the + superlative + noun

Usage Note

This sense almost always pairs with a superlative adjective (the best, the most, the tallest). It does not work with plain positive adjectives: 'easily good' is not natural.

Common Mistakes

This is easily a good movie.
This is easily the best movie I have seen this year.
'easily' meaning 'without doubt' requires a superlative, not a plain adjective.

3. used to say that something has a strong chance of happening or being the case, e

3.adverbB1
Definition

used to say that something has a strong chance of happening or being the case, especially when a particular situation or condition makes it probable.

Example

If you leave the milk out of the fridge, it can easily go bad overnight.

can + easily + verb for probability

A small argument like that could easily turn into a big fight.

Common collocations
  • can easily
  • could easily
  • might easily
  • easily become
  • easily happen
Synonyms
  • probably

    similar level of probability; works as a sentence adverb

  • likely

    overlapping meaning but grammatically flexible (adjective or adverb)

  • quite possibly

    slightly less certain than 'easily' in this sense

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

can/could/might + easily + verb

Usage Note

Common with modal verbs (can, could, might). The condition that makes the outcome likely is often stated in a following 'if'-clause or implied by context.

Common Mistakes

She easily arrives late' (missing modal verb).
She can easily arrive late if traffic is bad.
For the 'likely' sense, use a modal verb such as 'can', 'could', or 'might' before 'easily'.

4. happening in a short period of time, or faster than what is considered normal, e

4.adverbB1
Definition

happening in a short period of time, or faster than what is considered normal, especially when talking about changes in mood, energy, or condition.

Example

Ada gets bored easily when the lecture goes on for too long.

verb + easily for speed of reaction

The old dog tired easily on long walks, so they took shorter routes.

Common collocations
  • get bored easily
  • tire easily
  • cry easily
  • get upset easily
  • get angry easily
Synonyms
  • quickly

    broader meaning; can apply to any fast action

  • readily

    can suggest both speed and willingness

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

verb + easily for speed of change

verb + easily for emotional or physical reaction

Usage Note

Typically used with verbs describing changes in emotion, energy, or physical state — such as 'get bored', 'tire', 'cry', 'get angry', 'get upset'. It emphasises that the change happens faster than it would for most people.

Common Mistakes

The car drives easily' (confusing with sense 1 — no suggestion of speed). For the 'quickly' sense, the verb must describe a change of state, not an action.
The children tire easily in hot weather.

Word family

  • easy
    adjectiveA1
  • ease
    nounB1
  • uneasy
    adjectiveB2
  • easiness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four describe doing something without difficulty, but they differ in nuance. 'Easily' is the most general and common — it simply means 'with no struggle' and fits almost any context. 'Effortlessly' suggests the action required no visible exertion ('She runs effortlessly'), whereas 'easily' can describe something that was still some work but went without problems. 'Smoothly' focuses on the lack of interruptions or hitches ('The meeting went smoothly') and is often used for processes rather than single actions. 'Readily' overlaps with 'easily' but adds a layer of willingness or availability ('The information was readily available'). 'With ease' is a phrase meaning the same as 'easily' but sounds slightly more formal or literary. For everyday conversation, 'easily' is the safest choice. Example: 'Ada solved the problem easily' sounds natural in any register, while 'She solved it effortlessly' highlights how little effort was involved.

effortlessly ↗smoothly ↗readily ↗with ease

Common collocations

Phrases

  • with ease
  • without any trouble

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Derived from the Middle English 'esily', from Old French 'aisie' (comfortable, at ease), which traces back to Latin 'adjacens' (lying near, convenient). The modern English 'easily' emerged as the adverb form of 'easy'.