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idle

/ˈaɪd(ə)l/noun, verb, adjective2 syllables

Idle means: not in action or at work.

Synonyms for idle50

verb, as in be idle; exist in a changeless situation

laze, slug, stagnate

verb, as in run disconnected or idle

tick over

adjective, as in not in action or at work

bone-idle, bone-lazy, faineant, indolent, lazy, otiose, slothful, work-shy, lackadaisical, leisured, unengaged, ineffective, uneffective, ineffectual, unemployed

adjective, as in without a basis in reason or fact

baseless, groundless, unfounded, unwarranted, wild, unsupported

adjective, as in not having a job

jobless, out of work, unemployed

adjective, as in not in active use

unused, inactive

adjective, as in silly or trivial

light, frivolous

adjective, as in lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility

loose, irresponsible

adjective, as in not yielding a return

dead, unprofitable

also used for idle

dormant, quiescent, suspended, abeyant, at rest, cessant, dull, fallow, hibernating, unbusied, workless, anachronistic, antediluvial, antediluvian, antiquated

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Opposites of idle

busy, work, run

What does idle mean?10

adjective

1

not in action or at work“an idle laborer”

2

without a basis in reason or fact“baseless gossip”

3

not having a job“idle carpenters”

4

not in active use“the machinery sat idle during the strike”

5

silly or trivial“idle pleasure”

6

lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility“idle talk”

7

not yielding a return“dead capital”

verb

1

be idle; exist in a changeless situation“The old man sat and stagnated on his porch”

2

run disconnected or idle“the engine is idling”

noun

1

the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling“the car engine was running at idle”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with idle?3

two syllables

tidalbridal

four syllables

suicidal
Show 40 near rhymes
finalprivatesciencechinatitlemichaelviaislandpricestrialhighestitemsexcitedclimatequietrequirementscrisisgiantcycledevicesdietitembibleclientinvitedcarolinalicensepilotentitledislandssimonsilenceclientsfinalssilentarrivaldiamondvirustitlesalliance

Idle in a sentence

  • He dismissed his secretary, who was very idle.unknown
  • I thought he was busy, but on the contrary he was idle.unknown
  • They stood idle, instead of putting their shoulder to the wheel.unknown
  • If you are idle, be not solitary, if you are solitary, be not idle.blay_paul
  • That girl is not only idle, but also dumb.SunnyMoon
  • For some, excuses are plentiful to remain idle.anzart
  • But that he was idle, he would have succeeded.kuma
  • No matter how rich, one should not live an idle life.Jesse

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of idle

as a noun

plural
idles

as a verb

past tense
idled
present participle
idling
third-person singular
idles
past participle
idled

as a adjective

comparative
idler
superlative
idlest