Word Games Pro Dictionary

idle

adjective noun verb

not in active use

Quick reference

Word Facts

Word length
4
Starts with
I
Ends with
E
Contains
DL
Scrabble score
5
Database source
OEWN 2025 Core

How it sounds

Pronunciation

ˈaɪd(ə)l

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Audio Pronunciation

Audio pronunciation is unavailable for this word.

Meaning

Definitions

adjective

  1. not in active use

    “the machinery sat idle during the strike”

adjective

  1. not in action or at work

    “an idle laborer”

adjective

  1. not having a job

    “idle carpenters”

adjective

  1. not yielding a return

    “dead capital”

adjective

  1. lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility

    “idle talk”

adjective

  1. silly or trivial

    “idle pleasure”

adjective

  1. without a basis in reason or fact

    “baseless gossip”

noun

  1. the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling

    “the car engine was running at idle”

verb

  1. run disconnected or idle

    “the engine is idling”

verb

  1. be idle; exist in a changeless situation

    “The old man sat and stagnated on his porch”

In context

Example Sentences

the machinery sat idle during the strike
idle hands
an idle laborer
idle drifters
the idle rich
an idle mind
idle carpenters
jobless transients
many people in the area were out of work
dead capital
idle funds
idle talk
a loose tongue
idle pleasure
light banter
light idle chatter
baseless gossip
the allegations proved groundless
idle fears
unfounded suspicions
unwarranted jealousy
the car engine was running at idle
the engine is idling
The old man sat and stagnated on his porch
He slugged in bed all morning

Similar words

Synonyms

Opposite words

Antonyms

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