adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/ˈɛf.ət.ləs.li/
US:/ˈɛf.ɚt.ləs.li/
Midwestern-US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:EH1 F ER0 T L AH0 S L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
Without effort; without difficulty or struggle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
She hoisted the child effortlessly and plopped him in bed.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: at a canter, in a walk
Antonyms: none provided
2
adverb
Meaning 2
without effort or apparent effort
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
she danced gracefully and effortlessly
swallows gliding effortlessly through the air
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English effortless Middle English -ly English -ly English effortlessly From effortless + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
22 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Dutch:
moeiteloos
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Finnish:
vaivatta
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
French:
sans effort
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
German:
mühelos
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Ancient Greek:
ἀπόνως
(apónōs)
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Italian:
senza sforzo
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Italian:
facilmente
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Malayalam:
എളുപ്പം
(eḷuppaṁ)
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Malayalam:
അനായാസം
(anāyāsaṁ)
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Polish:
bez wysiłku
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Polish:
bezwysiłkowo
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Russian:
без напряже́ния
(bez naprjažénija)
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Russian:
без уси́лий
(bez usílij)
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Spanish:
aína
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Spanish:
aínas
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Spanish:
sin ningún esfuerzo
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Spanish:
costarle poco
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Spanish:
costarle nada
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Spanish:
sin esfuerzo
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Spanish:
resultarle fácil
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Spanish:
con facilidad
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
Turkish:
zahmetsizce
— without effort; without difficulty or struggle
