What does "idle" mean?
The state of idling, of being idle.
Idle
/ˈaɪd(ə)l/ adj, name, noun, verb
adj, name, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The state of idling, of being idle.
- Grammar: idle is listed as adj, name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: unused, abortive, absurd, airy.
- Useful contrasts: active, active diseases, active online community.
- Usage evidence: Some boys are diligent, others are idle.
How to use "idle"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "idle" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "idle" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "idle" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "idle" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "idle" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "unused" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "idle", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The state of idling, of being idle.
- 2 the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling wordnet
- 3 The lowest selectable thrust or power setting of an engine.
"a lumpy idle"
- 4 An idle animation.
- 5 An idle game.
Verb
- 1 To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume. transitive
- 2 run disconnected or idle wordnet
- 3 To lose or spend time doing nothing, or without being employed in business. intransitive
"to idle in an IRC channel"
- 4 be idle; exist in a changeless situation wordnet
- 5 Of an engine: to run at a slow speed, or out of gear; to tick over. intransitive
"High levels of all pollutants were found during time idling in stations."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 To cause (an engine) to idle(3) transitive
"The driver idled his engine until the car finally stalled."
Adjective
- 1 Empty, vacant. obsolete
- 2 Not being used appropriately; not occupied; (of time) with no, no important, or not much activity.
"idle hours"
- 3 Not engaged in any occupation or employment; unemployed; inactive; doing nothing in particular.
"idle workmen"
- 4 Averse to work, labor or employment; lazy; slothful.
"an idle fellow"
- 5 Of no importance; useless; worthless; vain; trifling; thoughtless; silly.
"an idle story; idle talk; idle rumor"
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Light-headed; foolish. obsolete
"The youth is idle"
Adjective
- 1 not in active use wordnet
- 2 not in action or at work wordnet
- 3 not having a job wordnet
- 4 not yielding a return wordnet
- 5 lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility wordnet
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 silly or trivial wordnet
- 7 without a basis in reason or fact wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname. countable, uncountable
- 2 Initialism of Integrated DeveLopment Environment. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 3 A suburb in the City of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England (OS grid ref SE1737). countable, uncountable
- 4 Initialism of Integrated Development and Learning Environment. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 5 A river, the River Idle in Nottinghamshire, England, which flows into the River Trent. countable, uncountable
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Acronym of indolent lesion of epithelial origin. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
Antonyms
Example
"Some boys are diligent, others are idle."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "idle"?
Common synonyms include: unused, abortive, absurd, airy, amble, ambling.
How do you use "idle" in a sentence?
Some boys are diligent, others are idle.
How do you pronounce "idle"?
Pronounced /ˈaɪd(ə)l/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English idel, ydel, from Old English īdel, from Proto-West Germanic *īdal, from Proto-Germanic *īdalaz. Cognate with Dutch ijdel (“vain, meaningless”), ijl (“rareified, skinny”), iel (“thin, slender”); German Low German iedel (“vain, idle”); German eitel (“vain, conceited”); and possibly Old Norse illr ("bad"; > English ill).
Etymology 2
From Middle English idelen, from Old English īdlian, from Proto-West Germanic *īdalēn. Cognate with German eiteln (“to make empty, free up”).
Etymology 3
From Middle English idel, ydel, from Old English īdel (“idleness”), from the adjective (see above).