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  1. Home /
  2. Dictionaries /
  3. English Dictionary /
  4. idle

idle

/ˈaɪdəl/
inactive

The factory has been idle since the strike began.

The factory is not operating.


informal

Not active or not in use.

The idle machinery gathered dust.

The machinery that is not being used collected dust.

She spent an idle afternoon reading magazines.

She spent a leisurely, unproductive afternoon reading magazines.

Commonly used as an adjective to describe objects, places, or periods without activity.

informal

To avoid work or activity; to spend time doing nothing.

He idled away the weekend playing video games.

He spent the weekend doing nothing productive, just playing video games.

Don't idle while the traffic light is red; prepare your next move.

Instead of standing still, use the red light time to plan.

English Dictionary
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Words of the Year

The most notable words that defined each year. Discover the vocabulary that shaped our world.