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to ease

to ease

305 2.1
To make something less painful or difficult
  • verb
  • /iːz/
translation icon : aliviar
  • They have to learn somewhere, Kelly, that we ease them into adulthood.
  • ease the transition
  • help ease
  • ease the burden

That is a comic who is trying to ease a psychic pain.

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Examples

  • In addition to increasing student access, advances in technology have eased the video production process as well.

    Academic text (2015)
  • But I think the aspirin has helped ease the pain.

  • Still, let me attempt to ease some of your concern here.

  • I might smoke a little bit and just like ease my mind for a little bit.

  • And if that special someone has pain, I wanna be there to ease the pain.

  • What is it that you could be doing to ease the burden?

  • The Committee expects that this change will ease the calendar congestion in the Supreme Court.

    Academic text (2017)
  • In addition, the support we received from the Department of Literacy helped ease our nerves and discomfort.

    Academic text (2015)
  • A similar strategy for handling past corruption could ease Mexico's transition toward a more open democracy.

    Academic text (1999)
  • I took some deep breaths to ease my anxiety before the presentation.

Synonyms

to relax
vsto ease
1.0

To feel less nervous and more calm

is broader and also includes reducing difficulty or practical problems
to facilitate
vsto ease
  • Formal
187 4.9

To make a task or process easier and help it happen

focuses more on reducing severity and calming people, not only enabling actions
to comfort
vsto ease
172 1.0

To make someone feel less upset or in pain

covers practical easing as well, not only emotional soothing
to relieve
vsto ease
166 2.3

Make pain, stress, or worry less

is broader, also focusing on calming and making tasks simpler
to alleviate
vsto ease
76 5.3

To make pain, suffering, or a problem less strong

is more general, covering calming or simplifying situations beyond pain
to soften
vsto ease
50 3.1

Make something less strong or harsh

focuses more widely on calming or lowering difficulty in many contexts
to smooth
vsto ease
46 3.7

To make a process or situation easier by removing obstacles

is broader, also including calming people and reducing emotional distress
to lighten
vsto ease
26 2.5

To make a load or worry feel less heavy

focuses more on calming and reducing overall severity beyond burden
to allay
vsto ease
14 6.9

To make fear, anger, or worry less strong

is broader, also easing practical problems and reducing general trouble
to still
vsto ease
12 4.2

To make quiet or calm

focuses more on lowering severity or trouble, not only making things quiet
to soften the blow
vsto ease
  • Informal
8 4.7

Make bad news or a loss easier to accept

applies more generally, not only to making bad news less painful
to mollify
vsto ease
8 7.2

To make someone less angry or upset

is wider, also lowering difficulty or reducing burdens beyond anger
to smooth out
vsto ease
6 3.4

Make a process or problem easier by removing difficulties

is more general, covering easing feelings and reducing severity beyond fixes
to smooth down
vsto ease
1 3.8

To make something less rough by pressing it flat or by calming people

has a broader sense, also reducing severity and calming beyond surfaces
4.1

Make a tense situation calmer

is broader, applying to easing many troubles beyond only tense situations

Antonyms

110 4.0

Make something stronger or more intense

69 8.0

To make a problem or feeling worse

Idioms

106 1.7

Being comfortable and relaxed, not nervous or worried

6 5.5

Feeling uncomfortable or nervous around other people

Phrasal Verbs

57 3.7

To make something less strong or strict

9 4.0

To become gradually less strong or severe

To pee or poop

Deal with a task or problem easily and with confidence

Lock someone in a very small cramped cell as punishment

Compounds

A place like a home or garden that gives rest and comfort

A comfortable place to sit where you can relax

How Easy

to eliminate
  • NSFW
502 3.4
to alleviate
76 5.3
to relieve
166 2.3
to ease
305 2.1
to soften
50 3.1

Surface Forms

ease infinitive
eased past
eased past participle
easing present participle
eases third person singular

Etymology

Ease comes from Old French aise meaning 'comfort', and it shares the root with easy. So to ease something is to make it less painful or less worrying.