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
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Recent Examples of idling
Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 18 Nov. 2025
Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
For example, Casa Familiar’s comprehensive air quality study in San Ysidro has helped shed light on the pollution South Bay communities endure from idling cars at the border, local heavy industry and Tijuana.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
So the captain is not going to keep the ship idling while your late-arriving flight is taxiing to the terminal.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2026
Amenities and experiences Most of my afternoons were spent idling at the heated infinity pool, glass of African wine in hand, overlooking the crater.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2026
But Stanley said the effort was entirely consistent with Patagonia's results-first philosophy — because Walmart is so huge, convincing it to do something as simple as not idling its delivery trucks while they are unloaded has a significant environmental benefit.
—Tony Biasotti, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
At least six other Department of Aviation workers were investigated for spending hours idling on the job, demonstrating incompetence, stealing city property, and lying during the investigation.
—Chris Tye, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Neurobots spend less time idling and more time exploring.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2026
Other steps like keeping tires inflated, using A/C sparingly as needed, using cruise control, avoiding long idling, and servicing your vehicle regularly can also significantly help save fuel, GasBuddy recommends.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 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
During air quality advisories, Derf recommends people avoid idling in a drive-thru for too long or mowing during air quality advisories because that could increase emissions.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
For example, Casa Familiar’s comprehensive air quality study in San Ysidro has helped shed light on the pollution South Bay communities endure from idling cars at the border, local heavy industry and Tijuana.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
So the captain is not going to keep the ship idling while your late-arriving flight is taxiing to the terminal.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2026
Amenities and experiences Most of my afternoons were spent idling at the heated infinity pool, glass of African wine in hand, overlooking the crater.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2026
But Stanley said the effort was entirely consistent with Patagonia's results-first philosophy — because Walmart is so huge, convincing it to do something as simple as not idling its delivery trucks while they are unloaded has a significant environmental benefit.
—Tony Biasotti, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
At least six other Department of Aviation workers were investigated for spending hours idling on the job, demonstrating incompetence, stealing city property, and lying during the investigation.
—Chris Tye, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Neurobots spend less time idling and more time exploring.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2026
Other steps like keeping tires inflated, using A/C sparingly as needed, using cruise control, avoiding long idling, and servicing your vehicle regularly can also significantly help save fuel, GasBuddy recommends.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idling
Noun
-
The researchers concluded that at least one of the keys to preventing social loafing is restoring individual responsibility within a group.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
These palazzo pants are the sleek solution to looking put-together at the airport, walking around a new city, lounging by the pool, and more without sacrificing comfort.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
-
The video opens with Earle lounging by the beach, basking in the sun.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Several of the largest non-traded BDCs and interval funds began receiving withdrawal requests at rates far beyond what their quarterly redemption structures were designed to handle.—
Steven Dudash,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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Last year, even with the field untouched during the half-time show at the Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, the interval lasted a little over 24 minutes, rather than the usual 15 minutes set out in the Laws of the Game.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Harris introduces us to the girls in a sepia flashback, their small bodies clad in matching dresses, one head resting on the other’s shoulder.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
-
What makes the business especially impressive is that its success is not resting on personality alone.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
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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
-
The prosecution showed the jurors chilling video and audio evidence that included Athena’s last moments after Horner lured her inside the FedEx van.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 May 2026
-
This comes after the first part of his sentencing phase, where prosecutors showed jurors chilling surveillance footage taken from inside the truck that day, NBC DFW and the Star-Telegram reported.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While strolling through Central Park in 1987, Honda spotted the artist wandering with no guards and an elderly woman by her side.—
Julius Miller
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
Take in the fresh air, listen to the sounds of nature, and trade scrolling for strolling.—
Jean Case,
Time,
14 May 2026
Verb
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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 18 May. 2026.
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