Do you know the definition of idle? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word idle, including its definition, usage, word origin, example sentences, and more!
-
Kevin
-
October 23, 2021
-
Common Questions
Your writing, at its best
Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant
What does the word idle mean?
According to Definitions and Collins English Dictionary, the word idle can be used as an adjective or a verb. As an adjective, the word idle can mean not in action or at work, the state of a mechanism or engine that is idling, something that is baseless, groundless, unfounded, unwarranted, or without a basis in reason or fact, not in active use, silly, trivial, not yielding a return, not having a job, having a reprehensible unwillingness or lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility. Many things can be idle, such as a car engine running at idle, an idle laborer, the idle rich, an idle mind, idle drifters, allegations proved groundless, idle fears, unfounded suspicions, unwarranted jealousy, idle gossip spoken with a loose tongue, idle hands, idle machinery or the state of an engine, idle men, idle pleasure, idle talk, light idle chatter, idle funds, idle carpenters, and more.
Idle can also be used as a verb meaning to waste, to run at a low speed or out of gear in reference to a shaft or engine, to be on vacation, to tick-over, to spend time doing nothing, to perform little or no exertion, or to be unemployed. The pronunciation of idle is aɪd l, and idle is two syllables – i-dle. One can add different suffixes to create different tenses of idle such as the present participle or past tense, as well as to form related words like idly (adv.).
Many other languages also contain words that mean idle. You may notice that many of these words look and sound similar to the word idle. These are called cognates, which are words and phrases that mean the same thing as well as look and sound similar between languages. These are often formed when two words have the same root word or language of origin like Latin or Greek. This list of translations for the word idle is provided by Word Sense.
- Japanese: 暇な (ひまな, hima na)
- Portuguese: ocioso, desocupado, desempregado
- Greek: άνεργος (masc.)
- Korean: 게으른
- Finnish: joutilas, toimeton
- Maori: paeko
- Mandarin: 闲 (xián)
- Swedish: overksam
- Latin: ōtiōsus (masc.)
- Italian: ozioso, disoccupato, inattivo
- German: untätig, müßig
- Hungarian: tétlen
- Swahili: zembea
- Russian: неза́нятый
- Dutch: nietsdoend
- Bulgarian: незает
- Turkish: boş, atıl, aylak, avare
- Czech: nečinný
- Arabic: عَاطِل عَن اَلْعَمَل
- Catalan: desocupat, aturat
- Spanish: ocioso
- French: oisif
What is the origin of the word idle?
According to Etymonline, the word idle has been used since the Middle English idel and Old English īdel. These come from the Proto-West Germanic idle which is also the source of the German eitel, Old High German ītal, Old Saxon idal, Old Frisian idel, and more. These words are of unknown origin.
How can the word idle be used in a sentence?
There are many different ways that the word idle can be used in a sentence. Below are a couple of examples to help get you started.
Brit was an indolent person in a changeless situation – she was always idle and felt like a burden to her family.
Despite being retired, the old man could not remain idle. The contented fisherman decided to do useful work and DIY his porch.
What are synonyms and antonyms of idle?
There are many different words and phrases that a person can use in place of the word idle. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same meaning as another word or phrase. Synonyms are useful to know if you are trying not to repeat yourself in conversation or a written work, as well as if you are trying to expand your vocabulary. This list of synonyms for the word idle is provided by Power Thesaurus.
- dawdle
- lounge around
- leisure
- saunter
- torpid
- fruitless
- unimportant
- lazy
- apathetic
- dormant
- idling
- slothful
- lounge
- stagnate
- dead
- worthless
- unoccupied
- quiescent
- tarry
- abortive
- vacant
- groundless
- out of work
- slug
- loll
- baseless
- light
- half ass
- redundant
- slouch
- loose
- pointless
- empty
- sleep
- resting
- unused
- waste time
- stationary
- futile
- shiftless
- trifling
- linger
- unavailing
- slow
- still
- out of action
- inoperative
- stagnant
- repose
- jobless
- lethargic
- loaf
- loiter
- work-shy
- inactive
- moon
- listless
- goof off
- hollow
- vegetate
- be inactive
- fool around
- lifeless
- motionless
- slack
- quiet
- ineffectual
- languid
- passive
- sluggish
- shallow
- rest
- sit back
- relax
- languorous
- useless
- unwind
- mope
- indolent
- unproductive
- frivolous
- unfounded
- take it easy
- inert
- insignificant
- loafing
- dally
- lollygag
- vain
- supine
- kill time
- bootless
- do nothing
- otiose
- unemployed
- laze
- spare
- ineffective
- meaningless
- unwarranted
- lackadaisical
- trivial
There are also numerous different words that mean the opposite of the word idle. These opposite words are called antonyms. Antonyms are another great tool to use to expand your English language vocabulary. This list of antonyms for the word idle is provided by Power Thesaurus as well.
- painstaking
- belt
- hectic
- working
- proactive
- productive
- shake a leg
- bomb
- keen
- enthusiastic
- whip
- dart
- struggle
- very busy
- go mad
- functional
- grist for the mill
- apply for a job
- do
- race
- clip
- brisk
- unflagging
- workaholic
- zip
- indefatigable
- sprint
- excited
- engaged
- energetic
- untiring
- busy
- tireless
- sedulous
- operating
- scoot
- bustling
- assiduous
- make haste
- pelt
- hasten
- fly
- hit the roof
- run
- zealous
- bucket
- wheech
- dash
- industrious
- ambitious
- restless
- active
- charge
- gallop
- spirited
- alive
- hare
- impactful
- hyper
- streak
- scramble
- step on it
- frantic
- driven
- vigorous
- speed
- bound
- function
- bolt
- laborious
- do homework
- lively
- conscientious
- hurtle
- diligent
- shoot
- occupied
- act
- passionate
- boogie
- self-driven
- vivacious
- go like a bat out of hell
- leg it
- hard-working
- persevering
- overactive
- rush
- hurry
- become angry suddenly
- work
- employed
- barrel
- intense
- stay ahead
- flirty
- fierce
- conduct research
- burn rubber
- career
Overall, the word idle means at rest or unmoving. This word is Proto-Germanic in origin.
Sources:
