First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1idle
adjective \ˈī-dəl\
: not working, active, or being used
: not having any real purpose or value
: not having much activity
idler \ˈīd-lər, ˈī-dəl-ər\ idlest \ˈīd-ləst, ˈī-dəl-əst\
Full Definition of IDLE
1
: lacking worth or basis : vain <idle chatter> <idle pleasure>
2
: not occupied or employed: as a : having no employment : inactive <idle workers> b : not turned to normal or appropriate use <idle farmland> c : not scheduled to compete <the team will be idle tomorrow>
3
— idle·ness \ˈī-dəl-nəs\ noun
— idly \ˈīd-lē, ˈī-dəl-ē\ adverb
See idle defined for English-language learners
See idle defined for kids
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Origin of IDLE
Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless
Related to IDLE
Synonym Discussion of IDLE
vain, nugatory, otiose, idle, empty, hollow mean being without worth or significance. vain implies either absolute or relative absence of value <vain promises>. nugatory suggests triviality or insignificance <a monarch with nugatory powers>. otiose suggests that something serves no purpose and is either an encumbrance or a superfluity <a film without a single otiose scene>. idle suggests being incapable of worthwhile use or effect <idle speculations>. empty and hollow suggest a deceiving lack of real substance or soundness or genuineness <an empty attempt at reconciliation> <a hollow victory>.
inactive, idle, inert, passive, supine mean not engaged in work or activity. inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work <on inactive status as an astronaut> <inactive accounts>. idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements <workers were idle in the fields>. inert as applied to things implies powerlessness to move or to affect other things; as applied to persons it suggests an inherent or habitual indisposition to activity <inert ingredients in drugs> <an inert citizenry>. passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control <passive resistance>. supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence <a supine willingness to play the fool>.
inactive, idle, inert, passive, supine mean not engaged in work or activity. inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work <on inactive status as an astronaut> <inactive accounts>. idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements <workers were idle in the fields>. inert as applied to things implies powerlessness to move or to affect other things; as applied to persons it suggests an inherent or habitual indisposition to activity <inert ingredients in drugs> <an inert citizenry>. passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control <passive resistance>. supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence <a supine willingness to play the fool>.
2idle
verb
of an engine or vehicle : to run without being connected for doing useful work
: to spend time doing nothing or nothing useful
: to cause (someone or something) to stop working : to make (someone or something) idle
idledidling \ˈīd-liŋ, ˈī-dəl-iŋ\
Full Definition of IDLE
intransitive verb
1
a : to spend time in idleness b : to move idly
2
: to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work <the engine is idling>
transitive verb
1
: to pass in idleness
2
: to make idle <workers idled by a strike>
3
: to cause to idle
— idler \ˈīd-lər, ˈī-dəl-ər\ noun
See idle defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of IDLE
1592
Related to IDLE
- Synonyms
- bum, chill, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drone, footle, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), hang about [British], kick around, kick back, laze, lazy, loaf, loll, lounge, veg out, kill time, twiddle one's thumbs
Synonym Discussion of IDLE
idle, loaf, lounge, loll, laze mean to spend time doing nothing. idle may be used in reference to persons that move lazily or without purpose <idled the day away>. loaf suggests either resting or wandering about as though there were nothing to do <she does her work and then loafs the rest of the day>. lounge , though occasionally used as equal to idle or loaf, typically conveys an additional implication of resting or reclining against a support or of physical comfort and ease in relaxation <he lounged against the wall>. loll also carries an implication of a posture similar to that of lounge, but places greater stress upon an indolent or relaxed attitude <lolling on the couch>. laze usually implies the relaxation of a busy person enjoying a vacation or moments of leisure <lazed about between appointments>.
IDLE[1] Defined for Kids
1idle
adjective \ˈī-dəl\
idler \ˈīd-lər\idlest \ˈīd-ləst\
Definition of IDLE for Kids
1
: not working or in use <idle workers> <idle farmland>
2
: lazy 1
3
: not based on anything real or serious <an idle threat>
— idle·ness \ˈī-dəl-nəs\ noun
— idly \ˈīd-lē\ adverb
2idle
verb
idledidling \ˈīd-liŋ\
Definition of IDLE for Kids
1
: to spend time doing nothing <I idled away the afternoon.>
2
: to run without being connected for doing useful work <The engine is idling.>
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