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Synonyms

leisurely

American  
[lee-zher-lee, lezh-er-] / ˈli ʒər li, ˈlɛʒ ər- /

adjective

  1. acting, proceeding, or done without haste; unhurried; deliberate.

    a leisurely conversation.

  2. showing or suggesting ample leisure; unhurried.

    a leisurely manner.


adverb

  1. in a leisurely manner; without haste.

    to travel leisurely.

leisurely British  
/ ˈlɛʒəlɪ /

adjective

  1. unhurried; relaxed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. without haste; in a relaxed way

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See slow.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of leisurely

First recorded in 1480–90; earlier laiserly (adverb); leisure + -ly

Explanation

Leisurely is a word that describes something that is unhurried and easygoing, like the leisurely bike ride you may take home when you know have a lot of work waiting for you there. Whether it's an adjective or adverb, leisurely is in no rush to finish; instead it strolls down the lane slowly in its relaxed, laid-back way, and it probably stops to smell the flowers as it goes. If you work at a leisurely pace, you probably don't have a supervisor breathing down your neck to see how much work you’re doing at every second of the day. Leisurely is often found on the same page as pleasure.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing leisurely

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.

Leisurely cooking a Julia-inspired feast, soundtracked by my favorite Spotify playlists while leaves fall outside and scarecrows, gourds and Halloween decorations begin to decorate the streets — it doesn't get much better than that.

From Salon • Sep. 3, 2023

Leisurely paced, and occasionally absolutely bizarre, Lodge 49 is first and foremost an inquiry into values, considering what it really takes to make people feel happy and fulfilled.

From The Verge • Dec. 12, 2018

Leisurely eating lets a diner appreciate, say, the contrast between sweet white scallops and their piercing base of salsa verde.

From Washington Post • Oct. 13, 2015

Leisurely sequences of the younger women drinking, trash-talking and, theorizing about the communal, do-it-yourself nature of their scene, in between happy excursions to the Off Ramp and other happening clubs, get banal and sloppy.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2013

Leisurely, he gathered himself for a spring, then leaped effortlessly at the latch on the door.

From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford