adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

idle

YDL

Idle (adj) means not working, active, or in use. Example: “The factory has stood idle since the plant closed last year.”

adj

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."

Lazy or unwilling to work.

"His teachers called him idle, though he simply found the subject boring."

verb

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."

To pass time doing nothing productive.

"They idled away the afternoon on the porch."

How to use idle

Learner’s notes

In 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

idol →

Common pairings

sit idle idle chatter idle threat engine idles

Word forms

more idle comparative, idled past tense, idles plural, Idles plural, idles singular, most idle superlative

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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."

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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inactive dormant unemployed indolent stationary

Related words

still active slow stopped fixed asleep suspended lazy

Rhymes for idle

sidle bridle

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.

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still active slow stopped fixed asleep suspended lazy