as in lazes
to spend time doing nothing
she likes to idle during the summer and recharge herself for the fall semester we idled away the evening relaxing around the campfire
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Recent Examples of idles
As your car idles, warm air blown from the top of your dashboard will melt the ice on the outside of the windshield.
—
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025
Security camera footage shows a black vehicle park in front of Café Bernardo, a restaurant, and idles for about two minutes.
—Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2025
The high-output Arco Zeus alternator cuts recharge time in half compared to earlier models and can charge the battery bank even while the Sprinter engine idles.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2025
The film just idles on the runway.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
As our car idles, Lucas Nascimento Morgado, a young biologist who works for a jaguar NGO called Onçafari here in the southern Brazilian Pantanal, grins giddily.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2025
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025
Security camera footage shows a black vehicle park in front of Café Bernardo, a restaurant, and idles for about two minutes.
—Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2025
The high-output Arco Zeus alternator cuts recharge time in half compared to earlier models and can charge the battery bank even while the Sprinter engine idles.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2025
The film just idles on the runway.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
As our car idles, Lucas Nascimento Morgado, a young biologist who works for a jaguar NGO called Onçafari here in the southern Brazilian Pantanal, grins giddily.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idles
Verb
-
But while the new movie dawdles on its way to Toxie’s origins, then rushes toward a finale with a lurching rhythm that verges on calculated ineptitude, its spirit never feels inauthentic.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The proposal rests on the false premise that allowing corporate investors to own and subsequently rent out homes is a major driver of high home prices.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Opened last fall, the resort rests where three ecosystems collide—the Mojave Desert, the Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin—creating scenery that feels somewhat otherworldly.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The notice relaxes the safe harbor in reg.—
Carrie Brandon Elliot,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Potassium relaxes the muscles in your blood vessels, helping lower your blood pressure.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Warm days are made for outdoor lunches and park strolls through El Retiro or Casa de Campo, while evenings stretch into tapas crawls and impromptu street performances in La Latina.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Dec. 2025
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From pit lane strolls to VIP rooftop views, stars showed up and showed out at one of the biggest sports weekends of the year.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As Cuenca plays a ball to the feet of his striker, Wilson dashes in the other direction, delaying Ibrahima Konate’s forward jump because the centre-back knows Bradley is unable to track both him and Robinson at the same time.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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In the dark romantic comedy-drama, True Blood alum Skarsgård, 49, plays tough biker Ray, who enters into a dominant-submissive relationship with Colin (Melling), a shy and directionless man who sings in a barbershop quartet.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Apartments in the capital are freezing, and when venturing outside people wear heavy layers of clothes against the bitter cold that chills to the bone.—
Vasilisa Stepanenko,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
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Winds chills in the mountains could hit 0 to minus 10 degrees, the NWS says.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The cranky and irritating backseat driver, who bums a lift midway through the Griswolds' adventure, also has with her the easily excitable pooch Dinky.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nearly every sound lingers like an unanswered question, and the scant bass drums that appear in most tracks are less for keeping time than providing anchor points in an inestimable nebula.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
29 Jan. 2026
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Drought lingers statewide, and Monroe’s water supply is down to about six months, officials said in an online statement Wednesday.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idles. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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