adverb
-
with ease; without difficulty or exertion
-
by far; beyond question; undoubtedly
he is easily the best in the contest
-
probably; almost certainly
he may easily come first
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of easily
First recorded in 1250–1300, easily is from the Middle English word esily. See easy, -ly
Explanation
Things that happen easily don't require a lot of effort. When your old car starts easily on a very cold morning, you'll breathe a sigh of relief. While you can only climb a mountain with difficulty, you can probably climb the stairs in your house easily. You can also use this adverb to mean something closer to "quickly," as when you describe your puppy as easily distracted with treats or yourself as easily bored by long books. The Old French root of easily is aisie, "comfortable" or "at ease."
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.
The company said it will also enhance its Page Match feature, allowing users to switch easily from a print or digital book to its audio version.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
The entrance to the loft space is flanked by colorful, translucent plastic strips, allowing light and people to easily pass through.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Prosecutors said Rush was moving funds into commodities that could be easily traded, citing "strong evidence" he was trying to hide the money.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
So the bacteria doesn’t spread anywhere near as easily as the flu or Covid-19 virus.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
“The journey has taken a bite out of part of him he could not easily spare,” said the sphinx.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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.
