Meaning & use
a breeze
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A light, gentle wind.
Grammar: Countable: 'a breeze', 'the breeze', 'breezes'.
Patterns
- a cool breeze
- the breeze blows
A cool breeze came off the water.
The curtains moved gently in the breeze.
We sat outside enjoying the evening breeze.
nounsingularinformal
Something that is very easy to do.
Grammar: Used in the phrase 'be a breeze'; not usually plural in this sense.
Patterns
- be a breeze
- something is a breeze
The test was a breeze; I finished in ten minutes.
After the training, the job felt like a breeze.
Don't worry, setting up the printer is a breeze.
Word forms
| plural | breezes |
|---|
Common combinations
- a light breeze
- A light breeze rustled the leaves.
- a cool breeze
- A cool breeze felt good on the hot day.
- be a breeze
- The exam was a breeze for her.
- in the breeze
- The flag fluttered in the breeze.
Synonyms and how they differ
- wind
- A general word for moving air; a breeze is specifically light and pleasant.
- gust
- A sudden, strong rush of wind; a breeze is gentle and steady.
- draft
- American English: a current of air inside a building; a breeze is usually outdoors.
Opposites
Word family
- breezy adjective
- With a lot of wind, or (of a person) cheerful and relaxed.
Commonly confused: a breeze or breeze?
a breeze vs breeze
Not to be confused with 'breeches' (clothing) or 'breathe' (to take air in).
Practice
What does 'a breeze' mean in the sentence 'The homework was a breeze'?
Choose one answer.
In informal English, 'a breeze' means something very easy. The other options do not fit the context of homework.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a breeze”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.