at ease
Idioms-
Also, at one's ease . Comfortable, relaxed, unembarrassed, as in I always feel at ease in my grandmother's house . The related idiom put at ease means “make comfortable, reassure,” as in I was worried that the letter would not arrive in time, but the postmaster put me at ease . [1300s] For the antonym, see ill at ease .
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In a relaxed position in military ranks. The phrase is often used as a command for troops standing at attention to relax, as in At ease, squadron . The command stand at ease is slightly different. A British military dictionary of 1802 described it as standing with the right foot drawn back about six inches and one's weight put on it. An American version is to stand with one's feet slightly apart and the hands clasped behind one's back.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
James, masquerading as an employee there, called him “sir” and put him at ease.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
The new prime minister looked at ease making an argument and articulating his political creed.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Secondly, for Goldman, the company’s forecast of gross margin of 72% to 73% in fiscal year 2028 is likely to put investors’ worries over high spending costs at ease.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
“She put everyone at ease during those moments in a really beautiful way. She is so physically tapped into her own abilities.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
He seemed ill at ease, and his eyes blinked nervously.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
