easygoing

easygoing — adjective

1. having a personality that stays calm and relaxed, not getting angry or worried w

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

having a personality that stays calm and relaxed, not getting angry or worried when things go wrong or people behave differently than expected

Example

Romi is so easygoing that she did not complain when the flight was delayed by five hours.

be + easygoing describing personality

The design team loves Christopher because his easygoing attitude keeps everyone calm under pressure.

easygoing + noun (attitude)

Common collocations
  • easygoing nature
  • easygoing personality
  • easygoing attitude
  • easygoing manner
  • easygoing person
  • easygoing manager
  • easygoing guy
  • easygoing teacher
Synonyms
  • laid-back

    more informal than 'easygoing'; common in casual American English conversation

  • relaxed

    broader — can describe a person, atmosphere, or attitude; 'easygoing' is more specific to temperament

  • mellow

    informal; suggests a calm, good-natured quality especially when under stress

  • easy

    informal, especially US; used in phrases like 'he is easy to work with' but not identical in meaning

Antonyms
  • uptight

    informal; describes someone who becomes anxious or angry easily

  • strict

    focuses on enforcing rules rather than emotional reactivity

  • demanding

    describes someone who expects high standards and is not easily satisfied

Grammar Patterns

be + easygoing

easygoing + noun (person/attitude/manner)

Usage Note

Usually describes a person's character or social style. In informal contexts, it often means someone is flexible and does not insist on strict rules or routines.

Common Mistakes

The exam was very easygoing.
The exam was very easy.
'easygoing' describes a person's temperament or an atmosphere, not the difficulty of a task.
She is very easygoing with her diet and eats anything.
She is not strict about her diet and eats anything.
Use 'easygoing' for social temperament with other people, not for rules you apply to yourself.

2. describing an activity, period of time, or atmosphere that is done in a slow, co

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

describing an activity, period of time, or atmosphere that is done in a slow, comfortable way without rushing or following a strict plan

Example

We spent an easygoing afternoon drinking iced tea and reading novels on the porch.

easygoing + time period (afternoon)

The wedding had an easygoing atmosphere with no detailed schedule and no strict dress code.

easygoing + noun (atmosphere)

Common collocations
  • easygoing pace
  • easygoing atmosphere
  • easygoing afternoon
  • easygoing lifestyle
  • easygoing rhythm
  • easygoing walk
  • easygoing dinner
  • easygoing weekend
Synonyms
  • leisurely

    very close in meaning; 'leisurely' focuses more on taking one's time, 'easygoing' on the lack of pressure

  • unhurried

    slightly more formal; describes the absence of haste rather than a comfortable mood

  • relaxed

    broader; can describe anything calm, including people, places, and events

Antonyms
  • hectic

    describes a situation full of rushed activity and confusion

  • frantic

    stronger than 'hectic'; suggests panic and urgency

  • rigid

    describes a schedule or plan that allows no flexibility

Grammar Patterns

easygoing + noun (atmosphere/pace/afternoon/lifestyle/walk)

Usage Note

Only applies to situations, activities, or atmospheres — not to objects. You can have an 'easygoing walk' but not an 'easygoing chair'.

Common Mistakes

We bought an easygoing sofa for the living room.
We bought a comfortable sofa for the living room.
'easygoing' describes pace or atmosphere, not physical comfort of an object.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a calm, untroubled temperament, but they differ in register and scope. 'Easygoing' is the most neutral and widely understood term; it implies someone who does not get upset easily and adapts well to others. 'Laid-back' is more informal and common in American English, often suggesting a deliberate rejection of stress or urgency — a laid-back person might arrive late and not worry about it. 'Relaxed' has a broader application: a person, atmosphere, or schedule can be relaxed, but it does not specifically carry the social-flexibility meaning of 'easygoing.' 'Mellow' is informal and focuses on a gentle, good-natured calm, often with the nuance that someone has become calmer with age or experience — you would say 'he has mellowed over the years' but not 'he has easygoinged.' For a learner at B1 level, 'easygoing' and 'relaxed' are the safest choices; 'laid-back' is fine in casual conversation.

easygoing ↗laid-back ↗relaxed ↗mellow

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • easygoing by nature
  • have an easygoing personality
  • take an easygoing approach

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Easygoing' is a compound of the adjective 'easy' (from Old French 'aisie', meaning 'comfortable, at ease') and the present participle 'going' (from Old English 'gān', meaning 'to move, proceed'). It was first used in the 17th century to describe a horse that moved smoothly and without effort. By the 19th century, the meaning had shifted from physical ease of movement to a person's relaxed, flexible temperament — the sense that is most common today.