as in lounging
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of idling
Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 18 Nov. 2025
Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 12 Feb. 2026
Picture galactic engines, just idling.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Also, three cars, idling in front of my house.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Swarms of cars and vans come and go from both sides; idling buses advertise destinations as far-flung as Lima or Santiago or Mendoza.
—Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Yesterday, [an] ICE agent [was] sitting in a white car idling there on my block, four houses down.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Temperatures this weekend will be below zero across Michigan, which may have people considering idling their vehicle before hopping in to drive someplace.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Why are states trying to reduce car idling?
—Anna Kleiber, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
More than two dozen residents who spoke with NBC News describe officers in unmarked cars idling on neighborhood streets and agents going door to door.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
Noun
There is no penalty associated with unattended idling in state statute, however, individual municipalities have ordinances in place with fines for the action.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 18 Nov. 2025
Verb
Two planes sat idling on the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport late Wednesday night, both of them waiting on disparate groups of Spurs players and staffers.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 12 Feb. 2026
Picture galactic engines, just idling.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Also, three cars, idling in front of my house.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Swarms of cars and vans come and go from both sides; idling buses advertise destinations as far-flung as Lima or Santiago or Mendoza.
—Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Yesterday, [an] ICE agent [was] sitting in a white car idling there on my block, four houses down.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Temperatures this weekend will be below zero across Michigan, which may have people considering idling their vehicle before hopping in to drive someplace.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Why are states trying to reduce car idling?
—Anna Kleiber, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
More than two dozen residents who spoke with NBC News describe officers in unmarked cars idling on neighborhood streets and agents going door to door.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idling
Verb
-
The pair had been loafing for some time among a grove of apple trees on a private residence in Payson.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Within a few moments, an antlerless deer emerged, loafing along toward Ronnie, completely unalarmed.—
Jim Moore,
Outdoor Life,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Brick walkways lead to separate spaces for outdoor dining and lounging.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The beaches of Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach are about half an hour away, so spend at least one of your days in Newport lounging, shelling, or swimming.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Keep the iron moving – never leave it resting in one spot.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Also, the lamp has been turned into a miniature homage to cubism (and its lampshade is hovering in the air, not resting on anything).—
Benjamin Lima,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, the GOAT of cross-country skiing, won his eighth lifetime gold for Norway by winning the men’s 10-kilometer interval start free.—
John Cherwa,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The bike maker is also expected to extend service intervals beyond the MX and EDX’s demanding 15-hour oil changes and 45-hour piston replacement schedules.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Faster pit stops could also help unlock sales for electric two-wheelers, which have been slow to catch on due to dawdling charge times and limited riding range.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Mar. 2023
Verb
-
Practices and games begin in January and expose players to harsh weather and unnecessary injuries while fans watch games in bone-chilling cold or do not attend at all.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Of course the main lobby restaurant, Le Jardin, which has icy buckets chilling wine and the near-constant scent of truffles in the air during its 24-hour service, is always packed.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Voorhies, wearing an earpiece in his right ear, was listening to this friend live-stream while strolling up and down the street.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Esteemed Venus is strolling into your 2nd House of Satisfaction, supporting thoughtful choices that align with your independent values and strengthen confidence through stewardship.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Its clear, shallow waters were pleasant to wade into after lazing under one of the scrubby trees on the sand.—
Lucy Handley,
CNBC,
15 Nov. 2025
-
And poor, engine‑damaging quality or not, the ersatz aviation fuel had to work only once to get a kamikaze plane up and away to hit one of the enemy warships now lazing about in the offing around the Home Islands, often close enough to be spotted from shore with the naked eye.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idling. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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