idle
Pronunciation[change]
- enPR: īʹd(ə)l
- IPA (key): /ˈaɪd(ə)l/
- SAMPA: /"aId(@)l/
Audio (US) (file) - Homophones: idol, idyll, idyl
Adjective[change]
Positive |
Comparative |
Superlative |
- If someone is idle, they are not active or working.
- The idle workers are going to be replaced by more ambitious employees.
Synonyms[change]
Antonyms[change]
Verb[change]
Plain form |
Third-person singular |
Past tense |
Past participle |
Present participle |
- If a car is idle, it is on but is not moving.
- Jack left his car idling while went inside the store to get bread.
- In the winter, I let my car idle for a few minutes before driving so the engine can warm up a bit.