leisurely
LEE-zhur-lee
/ˈleʒərli/
Acting or done at leisure; unhurried or relaxed.
Positive connotation; implies enjoyment and a lack of pressure.
The story behind the word. The root 'licere' means 'to be permitted'. From this, we got 'leisure'—time that is 'permitted' to you for your own use, rather than time you owe to a master or employer.
Word relationships
- unhurried: Unhurried is more neutral; leisurely implies that the person is choosing to be slow for pleasure.
- hasty: Hasty is rushed and often careless; leisurely is the opposite of rushed.
Commonly confused with
- slow: Slow is just speed; leisurely is a lifestyle choice or a mood.
Word family
- leisure (noun): Free time.
Collocations
- leisurely pace
- leisurely stroll
- leisurely breakfast
Example sentences
- "We took a leisurely stroll along the beach as the sun began to set." A vacation activity.
- "They enjoyed a leisurely lunch that lasted for nearly three hours." A slow meal.
Memory hook
Leisurely sounds like 'pleasurely'—doing things at a pace that gives you pleasure. Leisurely = At your pleasure.
When not to use
Don't use it if the slowness is frustrating; use 'sluggish' or 'plodding' instead.
Fun facts
- The word 'license' comes from the same root 'licere'.
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