Idle
adjective/verb Base: idle | Simple Past: idled | Past Participle: idled | -ing: idling | 3rd person: idles
Definition
1. Not working, not active, or not being used.
2. Not serious or having no real purpose.
3. Lazy and not willing to work.
4. An engine running slowly without doing work.
5. Spend time doing nothing.
2. Not serious or having no real purpose.
3. Lazy and not willing to work.
4. An engine running slowly without doing work.
5. Spend time doing nothing.
Context Alive
The factory had been shut down for months and nobody knew when it would reopen. All the heavy machines sat completely idle on the production floor, gathering dust and rust while hundreds of worried workers waited at home, hoping every day for some news about when things might finally start moving again.
Meanings
5 meanings 1 Not working, not active, or not being used — VERY COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about something or someone not being active or in use. Imagine a construction site where all the equipment is just sitting there — no workers, no noise, everything idle because the project ran out of money. This is being idle — standing still, not in use. You might see machines sitting idle in a closed factory, or workers could be idle for weeks during a strike. Or picture a computer sitting idle on a desk because nobody has logged in all day. The word suggests wasted potential. ✏️ Very common expression: “sitting/standing/lying idle” — describes something unused and waiting.
Vivid ExampleAfter the company lost its biggest client, the entire warehouse sat idle for months, with forklifts parked in rows and conveyor belts frozen in place, waiting for orders that never came.
2 Not serious or having no real purpose — COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about something that lacks real weight or purpose. Imagine someone threatening to quit their job every week but never actually doing it — everyone knows it’s just an idle threat with no real intention behind it. This is idle talk — words without substance. You might hear idle gossip at the office about who’s dating who, or someone could make an idle promise they never plan to keep. Or picture neighbors sharing idle chatter over the fence on a sunny afternoon. The word suggests emptiness — no real meaning behind the words. ✏️ Common combinations: “idle threat,” “idle gossip,” “idle speculation,” “idle chatter.”
Vivid ExampleHe warned his roommate that he’d move out if things didn’t change, but everyone knew it was an idle threat — he’d been saying the same thing for two years and never even looked at another apartment.
3 Lazy and not willing to work — COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about someone who simply doesn’t want to do anything. Imagine a teenager lying on the sofa all day, scrolling through their phone while their room is a mess and homework is piling up — their parents call them idle because they refuse to lift a finger. This is being idle — choosing laziness. You might call someone idle if they never help around the house, or a boss could describe idle employees who waste time instead of working. Or picture a student who sits idle in class while everyone else finishes the task. The word carries disapproval. ✏️ Strong British expression: “bone idle” = extremely lazy. It’s quite judgmental — be careful using it about someone directly.
Vivid ExampleHis mother was tired of watching him sit idle on the couch every afternoon, so she handed him a list of chores and said he wasn’t getting dinner until at least half of them were done.
4 An engine running slowly without doing work — COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about an engine that’s on but not going anywhere. Imagine sitting in your car at a red light — the engine is running, making that low humming sound, but the car isn’t moving. The engine is idling, using fuel without producing movement. This is idling. You might let your car idle while waiting for someone, or a taxi could idle at the curb while the driver waits for passengers. Or picture a bus idling at the station, engine running gently while passengers climb on. The word suggests running without purpose. ✏️ Many cities now have “no idling” laws — you can get fined for leaving your engine running while parked.
Vivid ExampleShe left the car idling in the driveway while she ran back inside to grab her keys, and by the time she came out, her neighbor was knocking on the window telling her she was wasting fuel.
5 Spend time doing nothing — LESS COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about passing time without any real activity or purpose. Imagine a lazy Sunday afternoon where you just idle around the house — reading a bit, looking out the window, making tea, doing nothing in particular. This is idling — relaxing without a plan. You might idle away an afternoon at a café watching people pass by, or teenagers could idle around the shopping center with nothing to do. Or picture someone idling in a park, sitting on a bench and watching the clouds. The word suggests pleasant or wasted time — depending on context. ✏️ Common phrase: “idle away” — “We idled away the whole weekend doing absolutely nothing.”
Vivid ExampleOn holiday, they spent every morning idling around the little seaside town, stopping for coffee here, browsing a bookshop there, with no plans and no hurry to be anywhere at all.
Examples from the Street
“The factory’s been sitting idle for months — nobody’s working there.”
It hasn’t been operating / it’s been completely shut down and unused
“Don’t make idle threats — either do something about it or stop talking.”
Don’t say things you don’t actually mean / empty words with no real intention behind them
“He just idles around the house all day doing nothing.”
He wastes time / lounges about with no purpose or productivity
Common Patterns
sit/stand/lie idle → remain unused or not operating
lie idle for [time period] → stay unused for a specific duration
idle workers/machines/land → people or things that are not currently in use (not necessarily by choice)
leave [something] idle → allow something to remain unused
idle threats/promises → words not meant seriously, with no real intention behind them
idle gossip/chat/talk → casual, unimportant conversation
idle curiosity → mild interest without any real purpose
idle speculation → guessing without any evidence or basis
an idle [person] → someone who avoids work or effort
bone idle → extremely lazy (British, strong disapproval)
idle hands → having nothing to do, often implying trouble follows
the engine idles / idle the engine → the motor runs without the vehicle moving
idle away [time] → waste time doing nothing in particular
idle around/about → spend time lazily without any purpose
Collocations
4 collocationsidle threat
a warning that won't be carried out
idle gossip
pointless and unimportant rumour
sit idle
remain inactive and not working
idle time
time when nothing productive is happening
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
The machines have been sitting idle since the strike began three weeks ago
The equipment hasn’t been running since the workers walked out three weeks back.
2
Millions of pounds in investment have been lying idle because nobody approved the project
A huge amount of money has been completely untouched because no one gave the go-ahead.
3
He said he’d fire everyone, but they were just idle threats — he’d never actually do it
He claimed he’d sack the whole team, but those were empty words — he’d never go through with it.
4
It wasn’t a serious question — just idle curiosity on my part
I wasn’t asking for any real reason — I was only mildly interested with nothing behind it.
5
The office is full of idle gossip about who’s getting promoted and who’s getting sacked
The workplace is buzzing with pointless rumours about who’ll move up and who’ll lose their job.
6
She called him bone idle because he wouldn’t even get up to make his own tea
She said he was completely and utterly lazy because he couldn’t be bothered to stand up and fix his own drink.
7
Don’t just leave your money idle in a savings account — invest it somewhere
Don’t let your cash just sit there doing nothing in the bank — put it to work somewhere.
8
I left the engine idling while I ran into the shop for two minutes
I kept the car running without moving while I dashed into the store for a quick errand.
9
We idled away the whole afternoon sitting by the river and doing absolutely nothing
We wasted the entire afternoon lounging beside the water without doing a single productive thing.
10
He’s been idling around the house for weeks — he really needs to find a job
He’s been lazily hanging about at home for weeks with nothing to do — he seriously needs to start looking for work.
Learner Examples
★
Students who sit idle during group work bring down the whole team — everyone needs to contribute
Learners who do nothing during collaborative tasks drag the rest of the group down — every person has to pull their weight.
★
Don’t let your English lie idle over the summer — even ten minutes of practice a day keeps your skills sharp
Don’t allow your language abilities to go unused during the break — even a short daily session stops your progress from slipping.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
2 items
Phrasal Verbsidle away — waste time doing nothing
We idled away the entire afternoon sitting by the lake.
Idioms & Expressionsidle hands — boredom leads to trouble
My grandma always said idle hands are the devil's workshop.
Synonyms & Antonyms
7 items
Synonymsinactive
not doing anything
lazy
unwilling to work
unoccupied
not busy
still
not moving
Antonymsbusy
occupied with tasks
active
doing things
productive
getting results