At ease means relaxed and comfortable, not tense: I felt at ease with them. Put someone at ease means help them relax. The opposite is ill at ease, uncomfortable and awkward. And in the army, At ease! is the order to stand in a relaxed position.
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feel / be at ease; put someone at ease; stand at ease
- A friendly greeting helped the new volunteer feel at ease.
- The host put everyone at ease by introducing the guests one by one.
- The recruits stood at ease while the officer checked the list.
What changed
First versionI felt at easy once I recognized a familiar face.
RevisionI felt at ease once I recognized a familiar face.
Ease and easy look almost the same, and easy is the word everyone knows. But after at you need the noun ease, meaning comfort or calm. Easy became ease, and the fixed phrase works: felt at ease.
With ease means without difficulty and describes an action: she passed the test with ease. At ease describes how you feel: she felt at ease during the test. You can do something with ease and still not feel at ease.
Your turn
The relaxed conversation helped her feel at ___.
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ease — The fixed phrase uses the noun ease after at. Easy is an adjective, and at easy is not an English phrase.
Describe what helped you relax among new people or at an interview. Use put someone at ease.
The tutor put me at ease by explaining that I could pause and ask questions.
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