idle
YDL
Idle (adj) means not working, active, or in use. Example: “The factory has stood idle since the plant closed last year.”
adj
1
Not working, active, or in use.
"The factory has stood idle since the plant closed last year."
"She hates being idle and always finds something to do."
"The machine sat idle in the corner of the workshop all week."
2
Lazy or unwilling to work.
"His teachers called him idle, though he simply found the subject boring."
"Nobody could call her idle, because she was up before dawn every single day."
"The manager fired the idle workers who spent every shift chatting by the coffee machine."
verb
1
Of an engine, to run slowly while not driving anything, such as a car sitting still with the motor on.
"Don't let the car idle in the garage — the fumes can build up."
"The bus driver let the engine idle while passengers climbed aboard at the stop."
"If you leave the lorry idling outside the school, the parents will complain."
2
To pass time doing nothing productive.
"They idled away the afternoon on the porch."
"I just want to idle in the garden with a book this weekend."
"Rather than study, he idled around the house, flicking through old magazines."
How to use idle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot being used, not working, or (for people) inactive/lazy; for engines, running without doing any work.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "idol" (a revered figure or object) — they sound identical but mean completely different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sit idle
idle chatter
idle threat
engine idles
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Word forms
- Plural
- idles
- Third person singular
- idles
- Past tense
- idled
- Comparative
- more idle
- Superlative
- most idle
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The factory has stood _____ since the plant closed last year.
Etymology
From Old English idel, meaning "empty" or "vain," related to Dutch and German words for "vain" or "meaningless."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for idle
See all rhymes for 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.
