Meaning & Definition of word "Idle"
Idle
/ˈaɪdəl/
verb:
- 1. To spend time doing nothing; to wait around.
- Example: He idled away the hours watching television.
adjective:
- 1. Not active or not in use; doing nothing.
- Example: After finishing his project, he spent an idle afternoon reading a book.
- 2. Inactive; not having any effect or purpose.
- Example: The machinery sat idle during the power outage.
- 3. Without purpose or effect; pointless.
- Example: They engaged in idle chatter while waiting for the movie to start.
Etymology
●Old English 'īdeles', meaning 'empty, void'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
idle hands are the devil's workshop:
A saying suggesting that inactivity can lead to mischief.
idle chatter:
Conversations that are trivial or unimportant.
to be idle:
To not do any work or activity.
Related Words
idleness:
The state of being idle; laziness.
idly:
In an idle manner; without work or activity.
idlewild:
A place or state being wild or untamed, often with no specific purpose.
Slang Meanings of idle
Meaning: Laid back; relaxed.
● Example Sentence: He was feeling really idle today, just lounging around.
Meaning: Doing nothing in a casual way.
● Example Sentence: We spent the whole afternoon just being idle at the beach.