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- pronunciation:
- aI
d
 l
- parts of speech:
- adjective, verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective, verb), Homophone Note, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| inflections: |
idler, idlest |
| definition 1: |
not active or in use; not working.
The factory sat idle after the company went out of business.- synonyms:
- dormant, unemployed
- antonyms:
- busy, employed, working
- similar words:
- sleepy, vacant
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| definition 2: |
wanting to avoid work; lazy.
The idle students never finished their work.- synonyms:
- lazy
- antonyms:
- active, industrious
- similar words:
- inert, slack, sluggish
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| definition 3: |
having little or no use or value.
For some people, video games are an idle activity.- synonyms:
- frivolous, petty, shallow, trivial
- antonyms:
- meaningful, serious
- similar words:
- insignificant, slight, useless
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| definition 4: |
having no basis in fact; not true.
An idle rumor spread through the school.- synonyms:
- empty, worthless
- antonyms:
- proven
- similar words:
- hollow, insignificant
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| related words: |
lethargic, quiet, standing, unemployed, vain |
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| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
idles, idling, idled |
| definition 1: |
to pass time in not working or in avoiding work.
She idled away the weekend.- synonyms:
- loaf, loll, lounge
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| definition 2: |
to run an engine out of gear without causing motion.
The car idled in the driveway.- similar words:
- run
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| related words: |
loiter, loll, mope, poke, procrastinate, rest, wear |
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| derivations: |
idly (adv.), idleness (n.) |
The words idle and idol (a statue) sound alike but have different meanings.
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