idle

¹idle

adj \ˈī-d^əl\

idler\ˈīd-lər, ˈī-d^əl-ər\idlest\ˈīd-ləst, ˈī-d^əl-əst\

Definition of IDLE

1

: lacking worth or basis : vain <idle chatter> <idle pleasure>

2

: not occupied or employed: as a : having no employment : inactive <idle workers> b : not turned to normal or appropriate use <idle farmland> c : not scheduled to compete <the team will be idle tomorrow>

3

a : shiftless, lazy b : having no evident lawful means of support

— idle·ness \ˈī-d^əl-nəs\ noun

— idly \ˈīd-lē, ˈī-d^əl-ē\ adverb

Examples of IDLE

1. There has been a lot of idle speculation about what might happen, but no one really knows.
2. the idle days of summer

Origin of IDLE

Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to IDLE

Synonyms: dead, dormant, fallow, free, inactive, inert, inoperative, latent, off, unused, vacant

Antonyms: active, alive, busy, employed, functioning, going, living, on, operating, operative, running, working

Related Words: abeyant, arrested, interrupted, suspended; unoccupied; asleep, comatose, lifeless, moribund, quiescent, sleepy; inoperable, unusable, unworkable, useless; dull, slow

Near Antonyms: functional, operable, operational, workable; assiduous, industrious, sedulous; energetic, vigorous; feasible, practical, usable (also useable), useful, viable

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at vain, inactive

Rhymes with IDLE

bridal, bridle, idol, idyll, seidel, sidle, tidal