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
Jazmin Alvarado,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
The second album this year from metalcore pioneers Converge is named for a mysterious, pulsing, low-frequency ambient drone, likened by those who hear it to a diesel engine, an idling airplane, or a kind of inescapable torture.
—
Alex Robert Ross,
Pitchfork,
24 June 2026
The roar gave way to brooms scraping asphalt, trucks idling and fans comparing videos on their phones.
—
C.j. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
18 June 2026
Last week's sell-off was triggered on Wednesday by idling – though robust – revenue projections from chipmaker Broadcom and may have been exacerbated by a call from artificial intelligence startup Anthropic for the sector to slow down its pace of advancements .
—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
The problem is that powering up the engines, idling them, and then using their massive power just to trundle around the tarmac is scarcely economical.
—
David Szondy
june 07,
New Atlas,
7 June 2026
His team closely monitors tire pressure on every bus and keeps a watchful eye on idling times.
—
CBS News,
2 June 2026
But what is the typical fine amount for idling — and what is idling even considered in New York City?
—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
26 May 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
At the same time, the sounds of idling diesel work truck engines have replaced that of dozens of fire trucks that had been stationed there for days.
—
Jazmin Alvarado,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
The second album this year from metalcore pioneers Converge is named for a mysterious, pulsing, low-frequency ambient drone, likened by those who hear it to a diesel engine, an idling airplane, or a kind of inescapable torture.
—
Alex Robert Ross,
Pitchfork,
24 June 2026
The roar gave way to brooms scraping asphalt, trucks idling and fans comparing videos on their phones.
—
C.j. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
18 June 2026
Last week's sell-off was triggered on Wednesday by idling – though robust – revenue projections from chipmaker Broadcom and may have been exacerbated by a call from artificial intelligence startup Anthropic for the sector to slow down its pace of advancements .
—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
The problem is that powering up the engines, idling them, and then using their massive power just to trundle around the tarmac is scarcely economical.
—
David Szondy
june 07,
New Atlas,
7 June 2026
His team closely monitors tire pressure on every bus and keeps a watchful eye on idling times.
—
CBS News,
2 June 2026
But what is the typical fine amount for idling — and what is idling even considered in New York City?
—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
26 May 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.
Verb
-
Unlike during recovery months when high-intensity skiing and snowboarding take precedence, the remainder of the year is much more focused on lounging, pampering and connecting with other guests.
-
An old recording studio, still adorned with a grand piano, now exists more as a lounging space.
Noun
-
Tires should be inspected for wear and rotated regularly, usually at the same interval as oil changes.
-
On a fickle morning in Miami—the kind where patches of sunshine give way to intervals of torrential rain—Learner Tien has taken shelter deep inside Hard Rock Stadium, the obliging home of the Dolphins, a Formula 1 Grand Prix, and, at the moment, the Miami Open.
Verb
-
Following the convincing 3-0 victory over Czechia while resting some starters, the atmosphere on the Mexican team has been very relaxed, with several videos showing the players joking around with each other.
-
On the facing page was Gompers’s block print/line drawing of the Tibetan saint and poet Milarepa sitting in a lotus position, a Sierra cup at his feet, and a Campingaz Bleuet stove resting on a boulder.
Verb
-
Indeed, Ederson has moments where he can be caught dawdling with the ball, hoping for an opening that doesn’t always arrive.
-
Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.
Verb
-
Great for running errands, chilling on the couch, or curling up on a redeye flight, this sporty set can do it all.
-
The good news is that many of these risks are preventable with simple habits like cleaning, separating raw foods, cooking thoroughly, and chilling foods promptly.
Verb
-
Spend an afternoon strolling through the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden or visiting the gentle giants at Elephant Nature Park, an ethical rescue and rehabilitation center.
-
In fact, when a distraught Tom Hayward suddenly reappears, a content Mary is strolling in a local park on her own.
Verb
-
The sense of just how much there is to do in this part of the world—the length of the scale between lazing and becoming ultra-active—is palpable.
-
Its clear, shallow waters were pleasant to wade into after lazing under one of the scrubby trees on the sand.
Cite this Entry
“Idling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idling. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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