Meaning & use
easy going
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Relaxed and calm; not easily worried or annoyed.
Grammar: Can be used before a noun (an easy-going person) or after a linking verb (She is easy-going).
Patterns
- be easy-going
- an easy-going person
My new boss is very easy-going and never stresses about deadlines.
He has an easy-going attitude that makes him popular.
adjectivecomparable
Not strict or demanding; relaxed in style.
Grammar: Often describes places, rules, or atmospheres.
Patterns
- easy-going atmosphere
- easy-going rules
The café has an easy-going atmosphere where you can stay for hours.
The school is known for its easy-going approach to homework.
Word forms
| comparative | more easy-going |
|---|---|
| superlative | most easy-going |
Common combinations
- easy-going person
- She is an easy-going person who gets along with everyone.
- easy-going nature
- His easy-going nature helps him in team sports.
- easy-going attitude
- Her easy-going attitude keeps the office calm.
Synonyms and how they differ
- relaxed
- Very similar; 'relaxed' can also describe a situation, while 'easy-going' usually describes a person's character.
- laid-back
- Informal; means the same but is more casual in tone.
- mellow
- Suggests a calm, gentle nature, often after some experience.
Opposites
Commonly confused: easy going or easy?
easy going vs easy
'Easy' means not difficult; 'easy-going' describes a relaxed personality.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'easy-going' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Easy-going' describes a person's relaxed character, so 'She is an easy-going person' is correct. The other options confuse it with the adjective 'easy' or use it as a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “easy going”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.