lazily

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'lazily' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something moving or doing something in a slow, relaxed, and unenergetic manner. Example sentence: She lazily got up from her seat and ambled towards the kitchen.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those weren't lazily phoned in or sent via SMS, either; you had to write out your selections (the 0055 number came later) and post them.

The Guardian - Sport

Haven't gay Welsh donkeys suffered enough, you might ask, without having their sexuality lazily associated with sexual violence?

The Guardian

Markets reacted by moving lazily upward, with the Dow up.86% at midday.

The Guardian - Business

The building is set on the north bank of the island, in a dreamy setting where the Seine laps lazily against its banks, and you can barely make out the sounds of the 21st-century city.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Serving large chunks of fruit in a lazily folded pancake, which means you never quite get the right ratio of fruit and pancake in the same mouthful.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

OS Map: Explorer OL6 – Lake District: south-western area For the genteel rambler, this stretch of Thames Path national trail is a lazily unfolding delight of riverside reflection, taking in charming English towns including Marlow, and the imposing Cliveden Estate.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At sunset, we walked along the beach, keeping pace with a lone dolphin that swam lazily across the bay, until the sun had turned from gold to blood, and dipped behind the sharply silhouetted palms like a clichéd photo of the paradise it was.

The Guardian - Travel

I hope you're not just going to lazily throw some sleigh bells over the top of it … That's what E17 did and it worked an absolute killer.

The Guardian - Music

The Conservatives accuse Labour of lazily allowing foreigners to take millions of jobs during the boom years rather than improving the employability of native workers.On January 19th Mr Cameron accused the previous Labour government of making a "Faustian pact" with debt-fuelled, finance-driven "turbo-capitalism".

The Economist

Federal judges, who opposed the bill because they were overburdened, may well decide to give civil class actions a far lower priority than criminal cases or lazily dismiss them on technicalities.All this explains why the new Senate Minority Leader, Harry Reid, claims that the bill "slams the courthouse door on a wide range of injured plaintiffs".

The Economist

It is exactly the same with health and safety – where regulations have often been twisted out of all recognition into a culture where the words 'health and safety' are lazily trotted out to justify all sorts of actions and regulations that damage our social fabric.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lazily" to vividly describe actions or movements that lack energy or are performed in a relaxed, unhurried manner, adding a layer of detail to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "lazily" when you simply want to indicate slowness. "Lazily" implies a deliberate lack of effort or energy, not just a slow pace. For simple slowness, consider using "slowly" or "gradually" instead.

Linguistic Context

Lazily functions primarily as an adverb. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to describe the manner in which an action is performed, indicating a lack of effort, energy, or enthusiasm. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, as shown in many examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lazily" is a versatile adverb used to describe actions performed with a lack of energy or effort. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. It's commonly found in News & Media and can be used to add descriptive detail, conveying a sense of relaxation or apathy. While similar words like "idly" or "lethargically" exist, understanding the specific nuance you want to convey is crucial. When using "lazily", remember that it indicates more than just slowness; it implies a deliberate lack of exertion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

idly

A direct synonym, conveying a lack of purpose or activity.

sluggishly

Highlights the slow and inactive nature of the action.

lethargically

Emphasizes the sluggishness and lack of energy in the action.

lackadaisically

Implies a nonchalant and unenthusiastic approach.

in a leisurely manner

Replaces the single adverb with a prepositional phrase, emphasizing the unhurried nature of the action.

inactively

Focuses on the lack of activity or movement.

without effort

Highlights the absence of exertion in the action.

carelessly

Shifts the focus to a lack of attention or concern in performing the action.

slowly

A simple and direct way to describe the pace of the action.

at a snail's pace

Uses an idiomatic expression to emphasize extreme slowness.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "lazily" in a sentence?

Use "lazily" to describe an action done without much effort, or in a relaxed and unhurried way. For example, "The cat stretched "lazily" in the sun."

What words are similar to "lazily"?

Synonyms for "lazily" include "idly", "lethargically", or "sluggishly". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "lazily" to describe an inanimate object?

Yes, "lazily" can be used to describe the movement or behavior of inanimate objects when you want to imply a slow, relaxed, or effortless quality. For example, "The river flowed "lazily" through the valley."

What's the difference between "lazily" and "leisurely"?

"Lazily" implies a lack of effort or energy, while "leisurely" suggests a relaxed and unhurried pace. While both can describe slow actions, "lazily" often carries a slightly negative connotation of being unwilling to exert effort.