uneasily
gb/ʌnˈizəli/ us/ʌnˈizəli/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
state
1
in an anxious or nervous way
in a worried or nervous way
Usage pattern:
[someone] + [verb] + uneasily
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with the adjective uneasy (e.g., 'I feel uneasy'). Uneasily describes how an action is done.
Synonyms
nervously (Often suggests visible tension or fear.)
|
anxiously (Emphasizes worry about a possible outcome.)
Antonyms
calmly (Without worry or nervousness.)
|
confidently (With self-assurance rather than anxiety.)
Collocations
smile uneasily
|laugh uneasily
|glance uneasily
|look uneasily at [someone/something]
|speak uneasily
|wait uneasily
|watch uneasily
|ask uneasily
|reply uneasily
|breathe uneasily
Themes
emotions
|communication
|daily_life
Examples
- She smiled uneasily when the interviewer asked about the gap in her résumé.
- He laughed uneasily, unsure whether the comment was meant as a joke.
- They waited uneasily for the test results to come back.
Learner examples
- I smiled uneasily.
- She looked uneasily at the door.
adverb
B2
state
2
in a physically uncomfortable way
in an uncomfortable or awkward way
Usage pattern:
[someone] + [verb] + uneasily (+ [place/position])
Common mistake:
Uneasily is not the same as 'with difficulty' (that meaning is rare in modern English).
Synonyms
uncomfortably (Directly emphasizes physical discomfort.)
|
awkwardly (Often suggests an uneasy posture or movement.)
Antonyms
comfortably (With physical ease and no discomfort.)
|
easily (Without strain or awkwardness.)
Collocations
shift uneasily
|sit uneasily
|sleep uneasily
|move uneasily
|lie uneasily
|stir uneasily
|fidget uneasily
|rest uneasily
|squirm uneasily
|settle uneasily
Themes
body
|health
|daily_life
Examples
- He shifted uneasily in his chair and tried to find a better position.
- After the long flight, she slept uneasily in the hotel bed.
- The child lay uneasily under the heavy blanket.
Learner examples
- He sat uneasily on the hard bench.
- I slept uneasily last night.
Grammar
Dictionary form
uneasily
IPA
GB/ʌnˈizəli/
US/ʌnˈizəli/
Syllables & stress
un - eas - ily (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (eas)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: uneasily
- Plural: uneasilies
Expressions
laugh uneasily
1/lˈæf ʌnˈizəli/
fixed phrase
give a nervous laugh
to laugh because you feel nervous
Examples
- She laughed uneasily and changed the subject.
- He laughed uneasily at the joke, unsure whether it was appropriate.
- They laughed uneasily when the microphone picked up their private conversation.
shift uneasily (in/on [something])
1/ʃˈɪft ʌnˈizəli ɪnən sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
move restlessly from discomfort
to move a little because you feel uncomfortable
Examples
- He shifted uneasily on the stool while everyone watched him.
- The students shifted uneasily in their seats when the principal walked in.
- She shifted uneasily from foot to foot, waiting for her name to be called.
sit uneasily with [something]
1/sˈɪt ʌnˈizəli wˈɪθ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
seem incompatible or contradictory
to not fit well with something else
Examples
- The plan to cut staff sits uneasily with the company’s promise to protect jobs.
- His public apology sat uneasily with the private messages that later appeared online.
- That explanation sits uneasily with what we saw on the security footage.
sleep uneasily
1/slˈip ʌnˈizəli/
fixed phrase
sleep badly from worry
to sleep badly and wake up a lot
Examples
- He slept uneasily, waking every hour to check his phone.
- They slept uneasily in the unfamiliar room.
- After the argument, she slept uneasily and felt tired in the morning.