idly

[ ahyd-lee ]

adverb

1. without taking action or showing concern:

   We cannot stand idly by and let evil prevail!

2. without apparent purpose or intention; aimlessly:

   He would tinker idly in his workshop for hours.

3. in a lazy way; indolently:

   Neither of them does anything much in life besides live idly or recklessly.

Other Words From

• o·ver·i·dly adverb
• un·i·dly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of idly¹

id(le) ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

The period of time listed on this menu—ranging from 15 seconds to 30 minutes—controls how long your phone will sit idle before going into standby and displaying the lock screen.

From Popular-Science

Scripps may have been a millionaire – the equivalent of a billionaire today – but she was no shill for the idle rich.

From Voice of San Diego

They launched a new service – previously there was an offline point, which is now closed, and the equipment is idle.

From Search Engine Watch

These governments have been paying idled employees 60 to 90 percent of their wages through their employer.

From Freakonomics

So, after years of idle complaining, I finally decided to try to do something about it.

From Freakonomics

After idly admiring the work for almost a week, Iolas gained the courage to enter his very first gallery.

From The Daily Beast

The street vendor, an older man in a baseball hat, sits by idly as tourists flood past the table.

From The Daily Beast

There is more honor in death than watching a single Egyptian harmed while its Army is standing idly by.

From The Daily Beast

"We cannot stand idly by and allow such atrocities to continue," he said.

From The Daily Beast

After finishing his massacre, Holmes walked out to the movie-theater parking lot, and reportedly began idly firing at his car.

From The Daily Beast

Idly his pen traced upon the paper in front of him a large X, the sign of the unknown quantity.

From Project Gutenberg

The countenances round him turned sinister, but not idly, negatively sinister: they grew dark with purpose.

From Project Gutenberg

Edna was sitting on the tabouret, idly brushing the tips of a feather duster along the carpet when he came in again.

From Project Gutenberg

The Nora lies becalmed not far from the Goodwin buoy, with her sails hanging idly on the yards.

From Project Gutenberg

He watches the budding of evil instincts, the ignoble habits idly acquired in degradation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• leisurely
• nonchalantly
• slowly