Meaning & use
effortlessly
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Meaning
adverb
In a way that appears to require no effort or difficulty.
Grammar: Used to describe how an action is done; it usually follows the verb or the object.
Patterns
- do something effortlessly
- move effortlessly
- effortlessly + verb
She solved the puzzle effortlessly, as if it were child's play.
He glided across the ice effortlessly, amazing the crowd.
The software handles complex calculations effortlessly.
Common combinations
- effortlessly easy
- The test was effortlessly easy for her.
- effortlessly smooth
- The car's ride was effortlessly smooth.
- effortlessly elegant
- She looked effortlessly elegant in a simple dress.
- effortlessly cool
- He has an effortlessly cool style.
Synonyms and how they differ
- easily
- Focuses on lack of difficulty; 'effortlessly' often suggests grace or smoothness as well.
- smoothly
- Emphasizes lack of problems or interruptions; 'effortlessly' emphasizes lack of effort.
- gracefully
- Emphasizes beauty of movement; 'effortlessly' emphasizes ease.
Opposites
Word family
- effortless adjective
- Requiring no effort; appearing easy.
- effort noun
- Physical or mental energy used to do something.
Commonly confused: effortlessly or effortless?
effortlessly vs effortless
'Effortless' is an adjective: 'an effortless performance'. 'Effortlessly' is an adverb: 'She performed effortlessly'.
Practice
Choose the correct word: 'She completed the marathon ______, barely breaking a sweat.'
Choose one answer.
The adverb 'effortlessly' describes how she completed the marathon. 'Effortless' is an adjective and would need a noun to modify, 'effort' is a noun, and 'effortful' is an adjective meaning requiring effort.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “effortlessly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.