idle

[ ahyd-l ]

adjective

, i·dler, i·dlest.

1. not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing:

   idle workers.

   Synonyms: sluggish

   Antonyms: industrious, busy

2. not spent or filled with activity:

   idle hours.

3. not in use or operation; not kept busy:

   idle machinery.

4. habitually doing nothing or avoiding work; lazy.
5. of no real worth, importance, or significance:

   idle talk.

   Synonyms: trifling, trivial, worthless

   Antonyms: worthwhile, important

6. having no basis or reason; baseless; groundless:

   idle fears.

7. frivolous; vain:

   idle pleasures.

   Synonyms: wasteful

8. meaningless; senseless:

   idle threats.

9. futile; unavailing:

   idle rage.

verb (used without object)

, i·dled, i·dling.

1. to pass time doing nothing.
2. to move, loiter, or saunter aimlessly:

   to idle along the avenue.

3. (of a machine, engine, or mechanism) to operate at a low speed, disengaged from the load.

verb (used with object)

, i·dled, i·dling.

1. to pass (time) doing nothing (often followed by away ):

   to idle away the afternoon.

   Synonyms: waste

2. to cause (a person) to be idle:

   The strike idled many workers.

3. to cause (a machine, engine, or mechanism) to idle:

   I waited in the car while idling the engine.

noun

1. the state or quality of being idle.
2. the state of a machine, engine, or mechanism that is idling:

   a cold engine that stalls at idle.

idle

/ ˈaɪdəl /

adjective

1. unemployed or unoccupied; inactive
2. not operating or being used
3. (of money) not being used to earn interest or dividends
4. not wanting to work; lazy
5. usually prenominal frivolous or trivial

   idle pleasures

6. ineffective or powerless; fruitless; vain
7. without basis; unfounded

verb

1. whentr, often foll by away to waste or pass (time) fruitlessly or inactively

   he idled the hours away

2. intr to loiter or move aimlessly
3. intr (of a shaft, engine, etc) to turn without doing useful work
4. intr (of an engine) to run at low speed with the transmission disengaged Also (Brit)tick over
5. tr to cause to be inactive or unemployed

Derived Forms

• ˈidly, adverb
• ˈidleness, noun

Other Words From

• i·dle·ness noun
• i·dly adverb
• o·ver·i·dle adjective
• o·ver·i·dle·ness noun
• un·i·dle adjective
• un·i·dling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of idle¹

First recorded before 900, and in 1915–20 idle fordef 12; Middle English, Old English īdel (adjective) “empty, trifling, vain, useless”; cognate with German eitel

Word History and Origins

Origin of idle¹

Old English īdel; compare Old High German ītal empty, vain

Synonym Study

Idle, indolent, lazy, slothful apply to a person who is not active. To be idle is to be inactive or not working at a job. The word is sometimes derogatory, but not always, since one may be relaxing temporarily or may be idle through necessity: pleasantly idle on a vacation; to be idle because one is unemployed or because supplies are lacking. The indolent person is naturally disposed to avoid exertion: indolent and slow in movement; an indolent and contented fisherman. The lazy person is averse to exertion or work, and especially to continued application; the word is usually derogatory: too lazy to earn a living; incurably lazy. Slothful denotes a reprehensible unwillingness to carry one's share of the burden: so slothful as to be a burden on others. See loiter.

Example Sentences

Narbonne hadn’t played a game since Sept. 27 after receiving four forfeit victories and having an idle week.

From Los Angeles Times

A high-ankle sprain kept Gus Edwards idle for four weeks, but the running back has a full tank of gas as the Chargers get into the heart of their schedule.

From Los Angeles Times

“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack and we won’t sit idle,” the governor declared in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

The Gauchos will open the playoffs on Nov. 15 against Dorsey, having not played a game in seven weeks because of forfeits and an idle week.

From Los Angeles Times

It was only taken out of idle curiosity one rainy winter’s day – but the shocking result of a DNA test was to force two women and their families to reassess everything they knew about themselves.

From BBC

Related Words

• empty
• unproductive
• useless