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

   en.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...

3. www.oed.com › dictionary › idle_vidle, v. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English Dictionary

   www.oed.com › dictionary › idle_v

   • Cached

   What does the verb idle mean? There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb idle . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

4. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › idlesIdles Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › idles

   • Cached

   1. : not occupied or employed: such as. a. : having no employment : inactive. idle workers. b. : not turned to normal or appropriate use. idle farmland. c. : not scheduled to compete. the team will be idle tomorrow. 2. : lacking worth or basis : vain. idle chatter. idle pleasure.

5. www.wordsmyth.netidle | Dictionaries and vocabulary tools for English language ...

   www.wordsmyth.net

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   Definition of idle. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › thesaurusidle - Cambridge English Thesaurus with synonyms and examples

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › thesaurus

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   idle. Thesaurus > a lazy person > idle. These are words and phrases related to idle. Click on any word or phrase to go to its thesaurus page. Or, go to the definition of idle. A LAZY PERSON. He's an able student, just idle. Synonyms and examples. lazy disapproving.

7. kids.wordsmyth.net › weidle | definition for kids | Wordsmyth Word Explorer Children ...

   kids.wordsmyth.net › we

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   Definition of idle. Best online English dictionaries for children, with kid-friendly definitions, integrated thesaurus for kids, images, and animations. Spanish and Chinese language support available.

8. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english-thesaurusIDLE Synonyms | Collins English Thesaurus

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english-thesaurus

   • Cached

   Apr 24, 2024 · 1 (adjective) in the sense of unoccupied. Definition. not doing anything. Employees have been idle for almost a month now. Synonyms. unoccupied. unemployed. redundant. jobless. out of work. out of action. inactive. at leisure. between jobs. unwaged. at a loose end. See examples for synonyms. Opposites.