Idle: meaning, definitions and examples

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idle

 

[ ˈaɪdl ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

state of being inactive

Not active or in use; without purpose or effect; pointless. Showing no activity; lazy.

Synonyms

inactive, lazy, unproductive

Examples of usage

  • He spent his days in idle conversation.
  • She felt guilty about her idle lifestyle.
  • The machine sat idle for months before being repaired.
Context #2 | Verb

to spend time doing nothing

To spend time doing nothing or to be not working. To move slowly or aimlessly. To run at a slow speed or out of gear.

Synonyms

laze, loiter, waste time

Examples of usage

  • Don't idle away your time, make good use of it.
  • The engine idled as they waited for the traffic light to change.
  • He idled through the park, enjoying the sunshine.

Translations

Translations of the word "idle" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ocioso

🇮🇳 बेकार

🇩🇪 untätig

🇮🇩 menganggur

🇺🇦 бездіяльний

🇵🇱 bezczynny

🇯🇵 アイドル

🇫🇷 inactif

🇪🇸 inactivo

🇹🇷 boş

🇰🇷 게으른

🇸🇦 عاطل

🇨🇿 nečinný

🇸🇰 nečinný

🇨🇳 闲置

🇸🇮 neaktiven

🇮🇸 aðgerðalaus

🇰🇿 қимылсыз

🇬🇪 უდრო

🇦🇿 boş

🇲🇽 inactivo

Etymology

The word 'idle' originated from the Old English word 'īdel', meaning vain, worthless, or useless. It has evolved over time to encompass meanings related to inactivity, laziness, and lack of purpose. The concept of idleness has been explored in various philosophical and literary works, highlighting the importance of productivity and purposeful action.

See also: idleness, idler, idly.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,232 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.