idled

past tense of idle

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of idled The show’s characters idled away their time watching programs like Years of Our Days to Live. Literary Hub, 18 May 2026 In fact, Airbus was collecting orders and making deliveries while Boeing idled due to the bans and delays imposed by the CAAC. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 14 May 2026 Government number crunchers were temporarily idled in October, so were unable to collect housing prices that month. Scott Horsley, NPR, 12 May 2026 The bus idled in a parking lot while the driver, Evan Prothero, and the choir director deliberated. Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026 Three years earlier, Russian aluminum manufacturer Rusal had idled its Eurallumina factory nearby. IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026 On a cold, drizzly December day in 2022, Demonbreun-Chapman idled his boat on the Coosawattee River, a waterway that feeds into the Conasauga near Calhoun. Dylan Jackson, ABC News, 6 May 2026 Inside, shag-pile carpeting flowed lavishly across floors and walls, chandeliers sparkled like diamonds, and a legion of marble statues idled as if awaiting the reboot of the Roman Empire. Zoey Goto, Architectural Digest, 6 May 2026 Uneven job growth The Fed is also keeping an eye on the labor market, which has idled amid economic uncertainty, uneven payroll gains and the emergence of artificial intelligence. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idled
Verb
  • In the living room, a tabby cat with a clipped ear lounged on a velvet couch, her front paws propping open an illustrated catalogue of military aircraft.
    Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
  • The couple giggled between kisses and lounged on a red-and-white picnic blanket while overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
    Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • To my surprise, Conway showed up, walking Clyde; Bores strolled past me in a dark suit.
    Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
  • Others strolled barefoot through the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, named after a courageous man who fought for freedom, not for presidents.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Flight attendants turned into drill sergeants, barking at passengers who flouted mask rules or dawdled too long eating that snack with the mask off.
    Thomas Black, Twin Cities, 21 Dec. 2025
  • Fava snuffled and dawdled and took her own sweet time up the sidewalk.
    Dan Kois, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Shake vigorously until chilled.
    Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 25 June 2026
  • Make sure the wine is chilled before blending so the drink stays cold longer.
    Nicole Hopper, Southern Living, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Further on, sandy-colored cows lazed in the mid-morning sun.
    Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Instead of bathing in a sanitizing solution when not in use, the wet wiping clothes rested on a food prep table.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026
  • And they’ll be rested for the first time in years.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Helicopters roar overhead, reminding me that last week people were worried the Oscars were going to get droned.
    Rachel Handler, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Temperatures rose above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, air conditioners droned, and power cuts followed.
    Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Smith Family Foundation has played a leadership role in Trenton, New Jersey, for a decade.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 28 June 2026
  • This time green and red shared the spotlight as Algeria played Austria in a Group J match, the final one that determined who would advance to the knockout stage.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Idled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idled. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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