leisurely
Americanadjective
-
acting, proceeding, or done without haste; unhurried; deliberate.
a leisurely conversation.
-
showing or suggesting ample leisure; unhurried.
a leisurely manner.
adverb
adjective
adverb
Related Words
See slow.
Other Word Forms
- leisureliness noun
- leisureness noun
- unleisurely adjective
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.
Vocabulary lists containing leisurely
Nothing But the Truth
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Prince (1958-2016) Tribute List
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Languor Management: Synonyms for "Lazy"
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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.
Other members of his sales team burned out on fruitless cold calls, but McDermott said he would skip leisurely, expensive lunches with co-workers to pack in more calls and sales meetings.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026
This gives me a chance to read or watch a show, get down on the floor for a short workout, spend some time knitting, or eat a leisurely breakfast.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026
Craig Chamberlain planned to have a leisurely breakfast with his wife at Los Muertos beach in Puerto Vallarta.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026
Video footage released by police shows a small dog leisurely walking down a road in Catania's San Giorgio district in Sicily carrying a bag of rubbish in its mouth before dropping it.
From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026
There was no more leisurely moving to and fro; no more quiet talking.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
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.
