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.
After a few minutes, he said, he felt at ease.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Although the characters were dealing with new challenges in Season 2, all of the actors felt more at ease, both with the unknown and with the structure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Essentially, they said, because he was less at ease with the car in the corners, he was making more corrections than Antonelli.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Brett and Samantha never saw him like this: unobscured, healthy, seemingly at ease with the enormous work of keeping his heart beating.
From Slate ● Jul. 19, 2026
But I want to set your heart at ease as to Mrs. S.—My representation, you see, has quite appeased her.”
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
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.
