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idle

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idle
adjective
ˈī-dᵊl
idler ˈī-dᵊl-ər ˈīd-lər ; idlest ˈī-dᵊl-əst ˈīd-ləst

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • not occupied or employed: such as
    having no employment inactive //idle workers
    not turned to normal or appropriate use //idle farmland
    not scheduled to compete //The team will be idle tomorrow.
  • not having any real purpose or value vain //an idle act //idle speculation //an idle threat
  • old-fashioned
    shiftless, lazy
    having no evident lawful means of support
  • not having much activity //the idle days of summer
verb
idled; idling ˈī-dᵊl-iŋ ˈīd-liŋ

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • intransitive ​verb
  • to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work //the engine is idling
  • to spend time in idleness //idling the day away //… most of the area idled in surface parking lots. — John J. Flynn
    to move idly
  • transitive ​verb
  • to pass in idleness
  • to cause to idle //idled the engine
  • to make idle //workers idled by a strike
Other Words
Adjective
  • idle​ness ˈī-dᵊl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
dead dormant fallow free inactive inert inoperative latent off unused vacant
Synonyms: Verb
bum chill dally dawdle dillydally drone footle goof (off) hack (around) hang (around or out) hang about [British] kick around kick back laze lazy loaf loll lounge veg out
Antonyms: Adjective
active alive busy employed functioning going living on operating operative running working
Examples
Adjective
  • //There has been a lot of idle speculation about what might happen, but no one really knows.
  • //the idle days of summer
Verb
  • //She left the engine idling for a few seconds before she turned it off.
  • //The cars idled in traffic.
  • //A group of boys idled in the doorway.
  • //The factory closed, idling several hundred workers.
  • //Thousands of workers have been idled by the bad economy.
  • //The factory has been idled by the strike.
First Known Use
Adjective
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2a
History and Etymology
Adjective
Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless
idle
adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

idle
adjective
ˈī-dᵊl
idler ˈī-dᵊl-ər ˈīd-lər ; idlest ˈī-dᵊl-əst ˈīd-ləst

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • not occupied or employed: such as
    having no employment inactive //idle workers
    not turned to normal or appropriate use //idle farmland
    not scheduled to compete //The team will be idle tomorrow.
  • not having any real purpose or value vain //an idle act //idle speculation //an idle threat
  • old-fashioned
    shiftless, lazy
    having no evident lawful means of support
  • not having much activity //the idle days of summer
verb
idled; idling ˈī-dᵊl-iŋ ˈīd-liŋ

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • intransitive ​verb
  • to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work //the engine is idling
  • to spend time in idleness //idling the day away //… most of the area idled in surface parking lots. — John J. Flynn
    to move idly
  • transitive ​verb
  • to pass in idleness
  • to cause to idle //idled the engine
  • to make idle //workers idled by a strike
Other Words
Adjective
  • idle​ness ˈī-dᵊl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
dead dormant fallow free inactive inert inoperative latent off unused vacant
Synonyms: Verb
bum chill dally dawdle dillydally drone footle goof (off) hack (around) hang (around or out) hang about [British] kick around kick back laze lazy loaf loll lounge veg out
Antonyms: Adjective
active alive busy employed functioning going living on operating operative running working
Examples
Adjective
  • //There has been a lot of idle speculation about what might happen, but no one really knows.
  • //the idle days of summer
Verb
  • //She left the engine idling for a few seconds before she turned it off.
  • //The cars idled in traffic.
  • //A group of boys idled in the doorway.
  • //The factory closed, idling several hundred workers.
  • //Thousands of workers have been idled by the bad economy.
  • //The factory has been idled by the strike.
First Known Use
Adjective
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2a
History and Etymology
Adjective
Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless
idle
adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

idle
adjective
ˈī-dᵊl
idler ˈī-dᵊl-ər ˈīd-lər ; idlest ˈī-dᵊl-əst ˈīd-ləst

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • not occupied or employed: such as
    having no employment inactive //idle workers
    not turned to normal or appropriate use //idle farmland
    not scheduled to compete //The team will be idle tomorrow.
  • not having any real purpose or value vain //an idle act //idle speculation //an idle threat
  • old-fashioned
    shiftless, lazy
    having no evident lawful means of support
  • not having much activity //the idle days of summer
verb
idled; idling ˈī-dᵊl-iŋ ˈīd-liŋ

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • intransitive ​verb
  • to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work //the engine is idling
  • to spend time in idleness //idling the day away //… most of the area idled in surface parking lots. — John J. Flynn
    to move idly
  • transitive ​verb
  • to pass in idleness
  • to cause to idle //idled the engine
  • to make idle //workers idled by a strike
Other Words
Adjective
  • idle​ness ˈī-dᵊl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
dead dormant fallow free inactive inert inoperative latent off unused vacant
Synonyms: Verb
bum chill dally dawdle dillydally drone footle goof (off) hack (around) hang (around or out) hang about [British] kick around kick back laze lazy loaf loll lounge veg out
Antonyms: Adjective
active alive busy employed functioning going living on operating operative running working
Examples
Adjective
  • //There has been a lot of idle speculation about what might happen, but no one really knows.
  • //the idle days of summer
Verb
  • //She left the engine idling for a few seconds before she turned it off.
  • //The cars idled in traffic.
  • //A group of boys idled in the doorway.
  • //The factory closed, idling several hundred workers.
  • //Thousands of workers have been idled by the bad economy.
  • //The factory has been idled by the strike.
First Known Use
Adjective
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2a
History and Etymology
Adjective
Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless
idle
adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

idle
adjective
ˈī-dᵊl
idler ˈī-dᵊl-ər ˈīd-lər ; idlest ˈī-dᵊl-əst ˈīd-ləst

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • not occupied or employed: such as
    having no employment inactive //idle workers
    not turned to normal or appropriate use //idle farmland
    not scheduled to compete //The team will be idle tomorrow.
  • not having any real purpose or value vain //an idle act //idle speculation //an idle threat
  • old-fashioned
    shiftless, lazy
    having no evident lawful means of support
  • not having much activity //the idle days of summer
verb
idled; idling ˈī-dᵊl-iŋ ˈīd-liŋ

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • intransitive ​verb
  • to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work //the engine is idling
  • to spend time in idleness //idling the day away //… most of the area idled in surface parking lots. — John J. Flynn
    to move idly
  • transitive ​verb
  • to pass in idleness
  • to cause to idle //idled the engine
  • to make idle //workers idled by a strike
Other Words
Adjective
  • idle​ness ˈī-dᵊl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
dead dormant fallow free inactive inert inoperative latent off unused vacant
Synonyms: Verb
bum chill dally dawdle dillydally drone footle goof (off) hack (around) hang (around or out) hang about [British] kick around kick back laze lazy loaf loll lounge veg out
Antonyms: Adjective
active alive busy employed functioning going living on operating operative running working
Examples
Adjective
  • //There has been a lot of idle speculation about what might happen, but no one really knows.
  • //the idle days of summer
Verb
  • //She left the engine idling for a few seconds before she turned it off.
  • //The cars idled in traffic.
  • //A group of boys idled in the doorway.
  • //The factory closed, idling several hundred workers.
  • //Thousands of workers have been idled by the bad economy.
  • //The factory has been idled by the strike.
First Known Use
Adjective
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2a
History and Etymology
Adjective
Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless
idle
adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

idle
adjective
ˈī-dᵊl
idler ˈī-dᵊl-ər ˈīd-lər ; idlest ˈī-dᵊl-əst ˈīd-ləst

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • not occupied or employed: such as
    having no employment inactive //idle workers
    not turned to normal or appropriate use //idle farmland
    not scheduled to compete //The team will be idle tomorrow.
  • not having any real purpose or value vain //an idle act //idle speculation //an idle threat
  • old-fashioned
    shiftless, lazy
    having no evident lawful means of support
  • not having much activity //the idle days of summer
verb
idled; idling ˈī-dᵊl-iŋ ˈīd-liŋ

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • intransitive ​verb
  • to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work //the engine is idling
  • to spend time in idleness //idling the day away //… most of the area idled in surface parking lots. — John J. Flynn
    to move idly
  • transitive ​verb
  • to pass in idleness
  • to cause to idle //idled the engine
  • to make idle //workers idled by a strike
Other Words
Adjective
  • idle​ness ˈī-dᵊl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
dead dormant fallow free inactive inert inoperative latent off unused vacant
Synonyms: Verb
bum chill dally dawdle dillydally drone footle goof (off) hack (around) hang (around or out) hang about [British] kick around kick back laze lazy loaf loll lounge veg out
Antonyms: Adjective
active alive busy employed functioning going living on operating operative running working
Examples
Adjective
  • //There has been a lot of idle speculation about what might happen, but no one really knows.
  • //the idle days of summer
Verb
  • //She left the engine idling for a few seconds before she turned it off.
  • //The cars idled in traffic.
  • //A group of boys idled in the doorway.
  • //The factory closed, idling several hundred workers.
  • //Thousands of workers have been idled by the bad economy.
  • //The factory has been idled by the strike.
First Known Use
Adjective
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2a
History and Etymology
Adjective
Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless
idle
adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

idle
adjective
ˈī-dᵊl
idler ˈī-dᵊl-ər ˈīd-lər ; idlest ˈī-dᵊl-əst ˈīd-ləst

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • not occupied or employed: such as
    having no employment inactive //idle workers
    not turned to normal or appropriate use //idle farmland
    not scheduled to compete //The team will be idle tomorrow.
  • not having any real purpose or value vain //an idle act //idle speculation //an idle threat
  • old-fashioned
    shiftless, lazy
    having no evident lawful means of support
  • not having much activity //the idle days of summer
verb
idled; idling ˈī-dᵊl-iŋ ˈīd-liŋ

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • intransitive ​verb
  • to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work //the engine is idling
  • to spend time in idleness //idling the day away //… most of the area idled in surface parking lots. — John J. Flynn
    to move idly
  • transitive ​verb
  • to pass in idleness
  • to cause to idle //idled the engine
  • to make idle //workers idled by a strike
Other Words
Adjective
  • idle​ness ˈī-dᵊl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
dead dormant fallow free inactive inert inoperative latent off unused vacant
Synonyms: Verb
bum chill dally dawdle dillydally drone footle goof (off) hack (around) hang (around or out) hang about [British] kick around kick back laze lazy loaf loll lounge veg out
Antonyms: Adjective
active alive busy employed functioning going living on operating operative running working
Examples
Adjective
  • //There has been a lot of idle speculation about what might happen, but no one really knows.
  • //the idle days of summer
Verb
  • //She left the engine idling for a few seconds before she turned it off.
  • //The cars idled in traffic.
  • //A group of boys idled in the doorway.
  • //The factory closed, idling several hundred workers.
  • //Thousands of workers have been idled by the bad economy.
  • //The factory has been idled by the strike.
First Known Use
Adjective
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2a
History and Etymology
Adjective
Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless
idle
adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

idle
adjective
ˈī-dᵊl
idler ˈī-dᵊl-ər ˈīd-lər ; idlest ˈī-dᵊl-əst ˈīd-ləst

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • not occupied or employed: such as
    having no employment inactive //idle workers
    not turned to normal or appropriate use //idle farmland
    not scheduled to compete //The team will be idle tomorrow.
  • not having any real purpose or value vain //an idle act //idle speculation //an idle threat
  • old-fashioned
    shiftless, lazy
    having no evident lawful means of support
  • not having much activity //the idle days of summer
verb
idled; idling ˈī-dᵊl-iŋ ˈīd-liŋ

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • intransitive ​verb
  • to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work //the engine is idling
  • to spend time in idleness //idling the day away //… most of the area idled in surface parking lots. — John J. Flynn
    to move idly
  • transitive ​verb
  • to pass in idleness
  • to cause to idle //idled the engine
  • to make idle //workers idled by a strike
Other Words
Adjective
  • idle​ness ˈī-dᵊl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
dead dormant fallow free inactive inert inoperative latent off unused vacant
Synonyms: Verb
bum chill dally dawdle dillydally drone footle goof (off) hack (around) hang (around or out) hang about [British] kick around kick back laze lazy loaf loll lounge veg out
Antonyms: Adjective
active alive busy employed functioning going living on operating operative running working
Examples
Adjective
  • //There has been a lot of idle speculation about what might happen, but no one really knows.
  • //the idle days of summer
Verb
  • //She left the engine idling for a few seconds before she turned it off.
  • //The cars idled in traffic.
  • //A group of boys idled in the doorway.
  • //The factory closed, idling several hundred workers.
  • //Thousands of workers have been idled by the bad economy.
  • //The factory has been idled by the strike.
First Known Use
Adjective
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2a
History and Etymology
Adjective
Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless
idle
adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

idle
adjective
ˈī-dᵊl
idler ˈī-dᵊl-ər ˈīd-lər ; idlest ˈī-dᵊl-əst ˈīd-ləst

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • not occupied or employed: such as
    having no employment inactive //idle workers
    not turned to normal or appropriate use //idle farmland
    not scheduled to compete //The team will be idle tomorrow.
  • not having any real purpose or value vain //an idle act //idle speculation //an idle threat
  • old-fashioned
    shiftless, lazy
    having no evident lawful means of support
  • not having much activity //the idle days of summer
verb
idled; idling ˈī-dᵊl-iŋ ˈīd-liŋ

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • intransitive ​verb
  • to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work //the engine is idling
  • to spend time in idleness //idling the day away //… most of the area idled in surface parking lots. — John J. Flynn
    to move idly
  • transitive ​verb
  • to pass in idleness
  • to cause to idle //idled the engine
  • to make idle //workers idled by a strike
Other Words
Adjective
  • idle​ness ˈī-dᵊl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
dead dormant fallow free inactive inert inoperative latent off unused vacant
Synonyms: Verb
bum chill dally dawdle dillydally drone footle goof (off) hack (around) hang (around or out) hang about [British] kick around kick back laze lazy loaf loll lounge veg out
Antonyms: Adjective
active alive busy employed functioning going living on operating operative running working
Examples
Adjective
  • //There has been a lot of idle speculation about what might happen, but no one really knows.
  • //the idle days of summer
Verb
  • //She left the engine idling for a few seconds before she turned it off.
  • //The cars idled in traffic.
  • //A group of boys idled in the doorway.
  • //The factory closed, idling several hundred workers.
  • //Thousands of workers have been idled by the bad economy.
  • //The factory has been idled by the strike.
First Known Use
Adjective
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2a
History and Etymology
Adjective
Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless
idle
adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

idle
adjective
ˈī-dᵊl
idler ˈī-dᵊl-ər ˈīd-lər ; idlest ˈī-dᵊl-əst ˈīd-ləst

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • not occupied or employed: such as
    having no employment inactive //idle workers
    not turned to normal or appropriate use //idle farmland
    not scheduled to compete //The team will be idle tomorrow.
  • not having any real purpose or value vain //an idle act //idle speculation //an idle threat
  • old-fashioned
    shiftless, lazy
    having no evident lawful means of support
  • not having much activity //the idle days of summer
verb
idled; idling ˈī-dᵊl-iŋ ˈīd-liŋ

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • intransitive ​verb
  • to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work //the engine is idling
  • to spend time in idleness //idling the day away //… most of the area idled in surface parking lots. — John J. Flynn
    to move idly
  • transitive ​verb
  • to pass in idleness
  • to cause to idle //idled the engine
  • to make idle //workers idled by a strike
Other Words
Adjective
  • idle​ness ˈī-dᵊl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
dead dormant fallow free inactive inert inoperative latent off unused vacant
Synonyms: Verb
bum chill dally dawdle dillydally drone footle goof (off) hack (around) hang (around or out) hang about [British] kick around kick back laze lazy loaf loll lounge veg out
Antonyms: Adjective
active alive busy employed functioning going living on operating operative running working
Examples
Adjective
  • //There has been a lot of idle speculation about what might happen, but no one really knows.
  • //the idle days of summer
Verb
  • //She left the engine idling for a few seconds before she turned it off.
  • //The cars idled in traffic.
  • //A group of boys idled in the doorway.
  • //The factory closed, idling several hundred workers.
  • //Thousands of workers have been idled by the bad economy.
  • //The factory has been idled by the strike.
First Known Use
Adjective
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2a
History and Etymology
Adjective
Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless
idle
adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

idle
adjective
ˈī-dᵊl
idler ˈī-dᵊl-ər ˈīd-lər ; idlest ˈī-dᵊl-əst ˈīd-ləst

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • not occupied or employed: such as
    having no employment inactive //idle workers
    not turned to normal or appropriate use //idle farmland
    not scheduled to compete //The team will be idle tomorrow.
  • not having any real purpose or value vain //an idle act //idle speculation //an idle threat
  • old-fashioned
    shiftless, lazy
    having no evident lawful means of support
  • not having much activity //the idle days of summer
verb
idled; idling ˈī-dᵊl-iŋ ˈīd-liŋ

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • intransitive ​verb
  • to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work //the engine is idling
  • to spend time in idleness //idling the day away //… most of the area idled in surface parking lots. — John J. Flynn
    to move idly
  • transitive ​verb
  • to pass in idleness
  • to cause to idle //idled the engine
  • to make idle //workers idled by a strike
Other Words
Adjective
  • idle​ness ˈī-dᵊl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
dead dormant fallow free inactive inert inoperative latent off unused vacant
Synonyms: Verb
bum chill dally dawdle dillydally drone footle goof (off) hack (around) hang (around or out) hang about [British] kick around kick back laze lazy loaf loll lounge veg out
Antonyms: Adjective
active alive busy employed functioning going living on operating operative running working
Examples
Adjective
  • //There has been a lot of idle speculation about what might happen, but no one really knows.
  • //the idle days of summer
Verb
  • //She left the engine idling for a few seconds before she turned it off.
  • //The cars idled in traffic.
  • //A group of boys idled in the doorway.
  • //The factory closed, idling several hundred workers.
  • //Thousands of workers have been idled by the bad economy.
  • //The factory has been idled by the strike.
First Known Use
Adjective
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2a
History and Etymology
Adjective
Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless
idle
adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

idle — MW · Shobdo