leisurely

1 of 2

adverb

lei·​sure·​ly ˈlē-zhər-lē How to pronounce leisurely (audio)
ˈle-,
ˈlā-
: without haste : deliberately

leisurely

2 of 2

adjective

: characterized by leisure : unhurried
a leisurely pace
leisureliness noun

Examples of leisurely in a Sentence

Adverb the old hound dog leisurely sauntered over to his water bowl to take a drink Adjective They strolled along at a leisurely pace. proceeding in a leisurely fashion After a leisurely lunch, we went to see a movie.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
With just five minutes of leisurely walking, study participants saw blood sugar spikes after a meal reduced by almost 60%. Margaret Cirino, NPR, 2 Feb. 2025 Enzo Fernandez leisurely explored the passing options to his left before checking back to his right. Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The contrast detailing gives the classic silhouette a polished touch, while the lightweight, flowy fabric moves beautifully—whether you're headed to a spring wedding, a beach vacation, or just a leisurely Saturday stroll. Kaitlin Marks, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2025 If your ideal spring break means swapping the chaos of everyday life for some leisurely solo time, Beaufort is the retreat for you. Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for leisurely 

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leisurely was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near leisurely

Cite this Entry

“Leisurely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leisurely. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

leisurely

adjective
lei·​sure·​ly
ˈlēzh-ər-lē,
ˈlezh-,
ˈlāzh-
: characterized by leisure : unhurried
a leisurely pace
leisureliness noun
leisurely adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on leisurely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!