breeze
gb/bɹˈiz/ us/bɹˈiz/
A2
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
event
1
A light wind
A soft and light wind that you can feel on your skin.
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] breeze
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'breeze' with 'wind', not realizing that 'breeze' refers specifically to a light wind.
Synonyms
zephyr (More literary or poetic term for a light wind.)
Antonyms
gale (Refers to a very strong wind, opposite in strength to a breeze.)
Collocations
cool breeze
|sea breeze
|gentle breeze
|summer breeze
|morning breeze
Themes
weather
|nature
|daily life
Examples
- A cool breeze came in through the open window.
- We enjoyed the sea breeze while walking along the shore.
- The morning breeze carried the smell of fresh flowers.
- A gentle breeze rustled the leaves in the park.
- The summer breeze made the hot day more comfortable.
Learner examples
- I feel a cool breeze on my face.
- The breeze moves the leaves.
- There is a nice breeze today.
- We sat outside in the breeze.
Noun
informal
B1
entity
2
Something very easy to do
Something that is very simple and not difficult to do.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a breeze
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this figurative use with the literal meaning of a light wind.
Synonyms
piece of cake (Informal idiom meaning something very easy, similar in tone.)
Antonyms
challenge (Refers to something difficult, the opposite of an easy task.)
Collocations
exam was a breeze
|job interview was a breeze
|assignment was a breeze
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|work
Examples
- The test was a breeze for her.
- Fixing the leak was a breeze with the right tools.
- Once you know the recipe, cooking it is a breeze.
- Learning to ride a bike was a breeze for him.
- The interview turned out to be a breeze.
Learner examples
- The exam was a breeze.
- This homework is a breeze.
- The game was a breeze for us.
- Driving here was a breeze.
Verb
informal
B2
action
3
Move quickly and easily
To go somewhere fast and easily, without problems.
Usage pattern:
breeze into [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this verb for any quick movement, but it implies ease and lack of difficulty.
Synonyms
sail (Informal use meaning to move smoothly and easily, often metaphorical.)
Antonyms
struggle (Implies moving with great difficulty or effort, opposite to breezing.)
Collocations
breeze into the room
|breeze past security
|breeze through customs
Themes
daily life
|movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She breezed into the meeting as if nothing had happened.
- They breezed through airport security in minutes.
- He breezed past his opponents to win the race.
- We breezed into the café and found a table immediately.
- She breezed out of the store with her purchase.
Learner examples
- She breezed into the room.
- We breezed through the test.
- He breezed past me on his bike.
- They breezed out of the house.
Grammar
Dictionary form
breeze
IPA
GB/bɹˈiz/
US/bɹˈiz/
Syllables & stress
breeze (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (breeze)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: breeze
- Plural: breezes
Verb
- Base: breeze
- 3rd Person Singular: breezes
- Present Participle: breezing
- Past: breezed
Word family
Forms
breezes
noun
breezing
verb
breezed
verb
Core family
breezy
adjective A2
Related words
breezily
adverb
Advanced or less common
breeziness
noun
Expressions
breeze through
1/bɹˈiz θɹˈu/
phrasal verb
informal
Do something very easily
To finish something quickly and with little effort.
Examples
- She breezed through her final exams.
- They breezed through the paperwork in no time.
shoot the breeze
1/ʃˈut ðə bɹˈiz/
idiom
informal
Chat casually with someone
To talk with someone about small, unimportant things.
Examples
- We sat on the porch and shot the breeze all afternoon.
- They were just shooting the breeze before the meeting started.