idle

Pronunciation

• enPR: īʹd(ə)l
• IPA ^(key): /ˈaɪd(ə)l/
• SAMPA: /"aId(@)l/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Homophones

• idol
• idyll, idyl

Adjective

Positive idle

Comparative more idle

Superlative most idle

1. If someone is idle, they are not active or working.

   The idle workers are going to be replaced by more ambitious employees.

Synonyms

• lazy

Antonyms

• active
• busy

Verb

Plain form idle

Third-person singular idles

Past tense idled

Past participle idled

Present participle idling

1. 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.