What is ease? Pronunciation and usage in English

ease means . Learn how to pronounce and use ease through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of ease

easenoun

/iːz/
Definition & pronunciation of ease

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "ease" in English. Here are a few ways to approach it, with explanations:

The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): /iːz/

  • Sounds like: "eez" (rhymes with "bees")

    • "ee" – A long "e" sound, like in the word "see." Make sure it's a full, drawn-out vowel sound.
    • "z" – A simple, sharp "z" sound, like in "zebra."

British English Pronunciation:

  • IPA: /iːs/

  • Sounds like: "ees" (rhymes with "trees")

    • "ee" – Similar to American English, a long "e" sound.
    • "s" – A quick, single "s" sound.

Tips for both versions:

  • Stress: The stress (emphasis) is on the first syllable ("ee").
  • Don’t over-emphasize the “z” or “s”. It should be quick and smooth.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.) Knowing your native accent will help me pinpoint the most common pronunciation for you.

Usage and examples with the word ease in English

Let's break down how to use the word "ease" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings! Here's a breakdown categorized by how it's used:

1. As a Verb (To Make Something Easier)

  • Meaning: To make something less difficult, harder, or stressful.
  • Examples:
    • "The new software will ease the burden of data entry." (Makes data entry less difficult)
    • "He tried to ease her anxiety by talking to her calmly." (Makes her anxiety less intense)
    • "The rain helped to ease the drought." (Made the drought less severe)
    • "She eased into the role of manager, starting with smaller responsibilities." (Gradually made the transition easier)

2. As a Noun (A Feeling of Relaxation or Relief)

  • Meaning: A state of relaxation, comfort, or freedom from pain or difficulty.
  • Examples:
    • "She felt a sense of ease in her new home." (A feeling of comfort and relaxation)
    • "The music created an atmosphere of ease and tranquility." (A feeling of relaxation and peace)
    • "He needed some ease from the pressure of the exam." (A release from tension and stress)

3. “Ease up” (To Reduce Intensity)

  • Meaning: To lessen the force, speed, or intensity of something.
  • Examples:
    • “Ease up on the pressure, I'm doing my best." (Reduce the pressure you're putting on me)
    • "The doctor eased up the medication dosage." (Lowered the amount of medicine)
    • "He eased up on the steering wheel as he rounded the corner.” (Reduced the pressure on the steering wheel)

4. “Ease out” (To Gradually Remove Someone)

  • Meaning: To be gradually dismissed from a job or position. It's often a less confrontational way of letting someone go.
  • Examples:
    • "After years of service, he was eased out of the company." (Gradually removed from his position)
    • "The company didn't want to cause trouble, so they eased her out of her role.” (Gradually removed her)

5. "Ease into" (To Start Slowly)

  • Meaning: To begin something gradually, without rushing.
  • Examples:
    • "She eased into running, starting with short walks." (She began running slowly)
    • “Let’s ease into the holiday with a relaxed pace.” (Let’s start the holiday slowly and calmly.)

Tips for Using "Ease" Correctly:

  • Context is Key: The meaning of "ease" depends heavily on the context of the sentence.
  • Synonyms: Consider synonyms like: simplify, alleviate, lighten, reduce, relax, calm. Using a synonym can often clarify your intended meaning.

Resources for Further Learning:

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  • Are you trying to use "ease" in a particular situation (e.g., writing, speaking, a certain topic)?

Synonyms for the word ease

Idioms of the word ease

(stand) at ease
used as a command to soldiers to tell them to stand with their feet apart and their hands behind their backs
    at (your) ease
    relaxed and confident and not nervous or embarrassed
    • I never feel completely at ease with him.
    • She was at her ease straight away in the new job.
    ill at ease
    feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed
    • I felt ill at ease in such formal clothes.
    put somebody at (their) ease
    to make somebody feel relaxed and confident, not nervous or embarrassed
    • Try to put the candidate at ease by being friendly and informal.
    put/set somebody’s mind at ease/rest
    to do or say something to make somebody stop worrying about something

      Practice with vocabulary ease

      Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

      1. The advanced automation system is designed to __________ the workload on human operators, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.
      2. Providing comprehensive onboarding and mentorship programs can significantly __________ the transition for new hires into a company's culture.
      3. To improve efficiency, the IT department decided to __________ the login process by implementing single sign-on authentication.
      4. The immediate financial aid package was crucial to __________ the severe economic hardship faced by vulnerable communities after the natural disaster.

      Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

      1. Which of the following measures can help to ease the financial burden on small businesses during an economic downturn? A. Increasing tax rates B. Offering low-interest government loans C. Introducing bureaucratic hurdles D. Providing grants for innovation E. Streamlining regulatory compliance

      2. The primary goal of the new software update is to __________ the learning curve for new users. A. exacerbate B. intensify C. complicate D. ease E. worsen

      3. The project manager's clear communication and proactive problem-solving skills helped to __________ tensions among team members. A. escalate B. heighten C. alleviate D. increase E. ease

      4. To ensure the successful implementation of the new policy, it is essential to __________ effective communication channels across all departments. A. hinder B. impede C. facilitate D. obstruct E. complicate

      5. The company is looking for innovative solutions to __________ the risk of cybersecurity breaches. A. amplify B. mitigate C. escalate D. maximize E. reduce

      Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

      1. The detailed user manual and online tutorials will make it less difficult for new users to understand the software's functionalities. Rewrite the sentence using a form of "ease":

      2. To lessen the pressure on the strained healthcare system, the government announced new funding for telemedicine services. Rewrite the sentence using a form of "ease":

      3. The consultant recommended several strategies to make workflows more efficient throughout the organization. Rewrite the sentence without using "ease" or its related forms:

      Answer:

      Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

      1. The advanced automation system is designed to ease the workload on human operators, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.
      2. Providing comprehensive onboarding and mentorship programs can significantly ease the transition for new hires into a company's culture.
      3. To improve efficiency, the IT department decided to simplify the login process by implementing single sign-on authentication.
      4. The immediate financial aid package was crucial to alleviate the severe economic hardship faced by vulnerable communities after the natural disaster.

      Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

      1. B. Offering low-interest government loans D. Providing grants for innovation E. Streamlining regulatory compliance
      2. D. ease
      3. C. alleviate E. ease
      4. C. facilitate
      5. B. mitigate E. reduce

      Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

      1. The detailed user manual and online tutorials will ease the learning curve for new users to understand the software's functionalities.
      2. To ease the pressure on the strained healthcare system, the government announced new funding for telemedicine services.
      3. The consultant recommended several strategies to streamline workflows throughout the organization.

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