idle
0 antonyms and opposites of idle, grouped by meaning.
Adj — Not working, active, or in use.
How to use idle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English idel, meaning "empty" or "vain," related to Dutch and German words for "vain" or "meaningless."
Full origin of idle →Frequently asked questions
What does “idle” mean?
The word “idle” means not working, active, or in use. In plain terms, not being used, not working, or (for people) inactive/lazy; for engines, running without doing any work.
How do you pronounce “idle”?
“Idle” is pronounced YDL (/ˈaɪd(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “idle” in a sentence?
Here is “idle” used in a sentence: “The factory has stood idle since the plant closed last year.”
What part of speech is “idle”?
Depending on how it is used, “idle” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “idle” come from?
The word “idle” comes from Old English. From Old English idel, meaning "empty" or "vain," related to Dutch and German words for "vain" or "meaningless.".
Is “idle” a common word?
“Idle” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “idle” have?
“Idle” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not working, active, or in use.
What is the difference between idle and lazy?
Idle describes a temporary state of not working or being in use, such as a machine sitting unused or a person with nothing to do at a given moment. Lazy describes a character trait, an unwillingness to work even when there is work to be done, making it more of a personal criticism than a description of circumstance.
What does it mean when a car engine is idling?
An idling engine is running at low speed while the vehicle is stationary and not being driven, so it produces just enough power to keep running without moving the car. This is common while waiting at a stoplight or warming up a vehicle.
Is idle used to describe machines as well as people?
Yes, idle applies to both. It describes people who are not working or active, and it also describes machines, factories, or equipment that are not currently in use or operation.