(easier, easiest)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If a job or action is ~, you can do it without difficulty or effort, because it is not complicated and causes no problems.
The shower is ~ to install...
This is not an ~ task...
= simple
? difficult
ADJ: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf, ADJ to-inf
easily
Dress your child in layers of clothes you can remove easily.
= simply
ADV: usu ADV with v
2.
If you describe an action or activity as ~, you mean that it is done in a confident, relaxed way. If someone is ~ about something, they feel relaxed and confident about it.
He was an ~ person to talk to.
...when you are both feeling a little easier about the break up of your relationship.
ADJ: oft ADJ about n
easily
They talked amiably and easily about a range of topics.
ADV: ADV with v
3.
If you say that someone has an ~ life, you mean that they live comfortably without any problems or worries.
She has not had an ~ life.
? hard
ADJ: usu ADJ n
4.
If you say that something is ~ or too ~, you are criticizing someone because they have done the most obvious or least difficult thing, and have not considered the situation carefully enough.
That’s ~ for you to say...
It was all too ~ to believe it.
ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ to-inf, ADJ to-inf disapproval
5.
If you describe someone or something as ~ prey or as an ~ target, you mean that they can easily be attacked or criticized.
Tourists have become ~ prey...
The World Bank, with its poor environmental record, is an ~ target for blame.
ADJ: ADJ n
6.
If you tell someone to go ~ on something, you are telling them to use only a small amount of it. (INFORMAL)
Go ~ on the alcohol.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n
7.
If you tell someone to go ~ on, or be ~ on, a particular person, you are telling them not to punish or treat that person very severely. (INFORMAL)
‘Go ~ on him,’ Sam repeated, opening the door...
PHRASE: V and ADJ inflect, PHR n
8.
If someone tells you to take it ~ or take things ~, they mean that you should relax and not do very much at all. (INFORMAL)
It is best to take things ~ for a week or two.
PHRASE: V and ADJ inflect
9.
see also easily