leisurely

1 of 3

adverb

lei·sure·ly ˈlē-zhər-lē

ˈle-,

ˈlā-

Synonyms of leisurely

: without haste : deliberately

leisurely

2 of 3

adjective

: characterized by leisure : unhurried

a leisurely pace

leisureliness noun

leisureliness

3 of 3

noun

lei·sure·li·ness

-lēnə̇s,

-lin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being leisurely

elegance, urbanity, a quill-pen leisureliness … are not much valued in our day—Louis Kronenberger

broad streets, an almost southern leisureliness, and fewer tall buildings than are seen in most cities—American Guide Series: Indiana

Synonyms of leisurely

Relevance

Adverb

slowly

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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

For something more leisurely, look west after sunset on July 17 to see the exact opposite sight — a 15%-illuminated waxing crescent moon close to Venus. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 July 2026 An activity that may seem leisurely, such as swimming in a river, could end up more dangerous if someone encounters an unexpected rip current. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 22 June 2026

Adjective

Nirmal Kumar, 44, a businessman, said what began as a leisurely trip descended into chaos within minutes as a storm lashed the boat. — ABC News, 13 July 2026 With over 29,000 five-star ratings from nurses, teachers, and podiatrists alike, the Aerothotic Comfy Flip-flops deserve a spot in your suitcase this summer, no matter if your itinerary calls for leisurely walks by the pool or intensive hikes. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026 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

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

leisureliness

leisurely

leisureness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Leisurely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leisurely. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

leisurely

adjective

lei·sure·ly

ˈlēzh-ər-lē,

ˈlezh-,

ˈlāzh-

: characterized by leisure : unhurried

a leisurely pace

leisureliness noun

leisurely adverb

leisurely

adverb

adjective

noun

Synonyms of leisurely

Examples of leisurely in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on leisurely

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

loquacious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes