idle
/ˈaɪdəl/
verb
- To spend time doing nothing; to be inactive.
- The teenagers idled on the street corner after school.
- He idled away the summer instead of looking for a job.
- Don't just idle all day; find something productive to do.
- To run an engine at low speed while the vehicle is not moving.
- She let the car idle in the driveway while scraping ice off the windshield.
- Trucks often idle for hours at loading docks.
- The mechanic warned that idling the engine for too long wastes fuel.
adjective
- Not working or active; doing nothing.
- She spent an idle afternoon just watching the clouds.
- He was fired for standing idle while his coworkers were busy.
- The factory machines sat idle during the strike.
- Without purpose or effect; pointless.
- She made idle promises she had no intention of keeping.
- It was an idle threat; he never meant to actually quit.
- Don't waste time on idle gossip about your neighbors.
- Not in use; not occupied.
- He left his car idle in the driveway for weeks.
- There were several idle taxis waiting at the station.
- The hotel has many idle rooms during the off-season.
Synonyms
noun
- The state of an engine running at low speed while the vehicle is not moving.
- The car's idle was rough, so he took it to the shop.
- Adjust the idle on the lawnmower if it stalls.
- A smooth idle indicates a well-tuned engine.