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1. Dictionary

   I·dle

   /ˈīd(ə)l/

   

   adjective

   • 1. (of a person) avoiding work; lazy: "idle students" Similar lazyindolentslothfulwork-shyshiftlessloafinginactiveinertsluggishlethargiclanguorouslistlesstorpidremissnegligentslacklaxlackadaisicalimpassivegood-for-nothingdo-nothingleisurelyinformal:bone idlearchaic:fainéantrare:otioseOpposite industrious
   • ▪ (of a person) not working; unemployed: "10.3 percent of the workforce is now idle" Similar unemployedjoblessout of workout of a jobbetween jobsworklessunwagedunoccupiedredundantinformal:on the dolesigning oneuphemistic:restinginformal:on the wallaby trackOpposite employed
   • ▪ (especially of a machine or factory) not active or in use: "assembly lines standing idle for lack of spare parts" Similar not in useout of usenot operatingnot workinginactiveout of actioninoperativenonfunctioningout of serviceunusedunoccupiedunemployeddisusedno longer in usefallen into disusemothballedOpposite working
   • ▪ (of time) characterized by inaction or absence of significant activity: "at no time in the day must there be an idle moment" Similar unoccupiedspareemptyvacantunfilledavailableOpposite busyfull
   • ▪ (of money) held in cash or in accounts paying no interest.
   • 2. without purpose or effect; pointless: "he did not want to waste valuable time in idle chatter" Similar frivoloustrivialtriflingminorpettyfoolishlightweightshallowsuperficialinsignificantunimportantworthlessvaluelesspointlesspaltrynigglingperipheralwithout depthinanefatuoussenselessmeaninglesspurposelessunnecessarytime-wastingOpposite seriousmeaningful
   • ▪ (especially of a threat or boast) without foundation: "I knew Ellen did not make idle threats" Similar emptymeaninglessaimlesspointlessworthlessuselessvainin vaininsubstantialfutileineffectiveineffectualgroundlesswithout groundsbaselesswithout/lacking foundationOpposite serious

   verb

   • 1. spend time doing nothing: "four men were idling outside the shop" Similar do nothingbe inactivevegetatesit backtake it easyrest on one's oarsmark timekick one's heelstwiddle one's thumbskill timelanguishlaze (around)lounge (around)loll (around)loaf (around)slouch (around)go to seeddegeneratemolderstagnateinformal:hang aroundveg outmooch aboutmooch aroundslummockbum aroundbat aroundlollygaglay on one's oarsfritterwhilelazeloiterpassspenduseemployuse upoccupytake upfill upfill infillbeguileexpenddevotewastedissipatekill
   • ▪ move aimlessly or lazily: "Cal idled past MetroHealth at a stately pace" Similar saunterstrolldawdledriftputteramblego/walk slowlyloitermaunderwanderstraggleinformal:moseytootlepootlemoochswan
   • ▪ take out of use or employment: North American "he will close the newspaper, idling 2,200 workers" Similar saunterstrolldawdledriftputteramblego/walk slowlyloitermaunderwanderstraggleinformal:moseytootlepootlemoochswan
   • 2. (of an engine) run slowly while disconnected from a load or out of gear: "the car is noisily idling in the street" Similar tick overrun slowly in neutral
   • ▪ cause (an engine) to idle. Similar tick overrun slowly in neutral

   Word Origin Old Englishīdel ‘empty, useless’, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch ijdel ‘vain, frivolous, useless’ and German eitel ‘bare, worthless’.

   Scrabble Points: 5

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › idleIdle Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › idle

   • Cached

   Jul 10, 2012 · Synonym Discussion of Idle. not occupied or employed: such as; having no employment : inactive; not turned to normal or appropriate use… See the full definition

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishIDLE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   IDLE definition: 1. not working or being used: 2. An idle moment or period of time is one in which there is no work…. Learn more.

4. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › idleIdle - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › idle

   Something idle is not active. If your car is idling, it's running but not moving. If someone calls you idle, it either means they think you don't have enough to do or that you're just plain lazy.

5. www.thefreedictionary.com › idleIdle - definition of idle by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › idle

   • Cached

   Define idle. idle synonyms, idle pronunciation, idle translation, English dictionary definition of idle. not in use; unemployed; inactive: The lifeguard was idle during the winter months. Not to be confused with: idol – object of worship; a person blindly...

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › idle;)IDLE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › idle;)

   • Cached

   Idle definition: not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing. See examples of IDLE used in a sentence.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishIDLE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   IDLE definition: 1. not working or being used: 2. not serious or having no real purpose: 3. lazy and not willing…. Learn more.

8. www.yourdictionary.com › idleIdle Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

   www.yourdictionary.com › idle

   • Cached

   Idle definition: Being a period of time in which there is little or no activity.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishidle verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   Definition of idle verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

10. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › americanidle verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american

    • Cached

    Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app 2 [ intransitive ] ( of an engine ) to run slowly while the vehicle is not moving She left the car idling at the curb. 3 [ transitive ] idle somebody/something to close a factory, etc. or stop providing work for the workers, especially temporarily The strikes have idled ...

11. en.m.wiktionary.org › wiki › idleidle - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

    en.m.wiktionary.org › wiki › idle

    • Cached

    Jun 2, 2024 · idle (comparative more idle, superlative most idle) ( obsolete ) Empty , vacant . Not being used appropriately; not occupied ; (of time) with no, no important, or not much activity.