English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj A2 Elementary Uncommon

uneasy

uhn-EE-zee

Uneasy (adj) means feeling worried, nervous, or not at ease. Example: “He felt uneasy walking alone through the empty car park.”

adj
1
Feeling worried, nervous, or not at ease.
"He felt uneasy walking alone through the empty car park."
"There was an uneasy silence after her comment."
2
Awkward or strained, especially in social situations.
"The two rivals shared an uneasy truce."

How to Use Uneasy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot comfortable or relaxed — nervous, worried, or awkward.

Common pairings
uneasy silence uneasy truce feel uneasy uneasy alliance

Word Forms

uneasier comparative, more uneasy comparative, uneasier comparative, uneasiest superlative, most uneasy superlative, uneasiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “uneasy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He felt _____ walking alone through the empty car park.

Etymology

From Middle English unesy, from un- plus easy; it later merged with the older word uneath, meaning "difficult."

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for uneasy

See all rhymes for uneasy →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “uneasy” mean?

The word “uneasy” means feeling worried, nervous, or not at ease. In plain terms, not comfortable or relaxed — nervous, worried, or awkward.

How do you pronounce “uneasy”?

“Uneasy” is pronounced uhn-EE-zee (/ʌnˈiːzi/ in IPA).

How do you use “uneasy” in a sentence?

Here is “uneasy” used in a sentence: “He felt uneasy walking alone through the empty car park.”

What part of speech is “uneasy”?

“Uneasy” is an adjective.

Where does the word “uneasy” come from?

The word “uneasy” comes from Middle English. From Middle English unesy, from un- plus easy; it later merged with the older word uneath, meaning "difficult.".

Is “uneasy” a common word?

“Uneasy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “uneasy” have?

“Uneasy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling worried, nervous, or not at ease.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial