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
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Recent Examples of idling
Anan Bishara, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Avoid excessive idling and do not top off when refueling motor vehicles.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The majority of the market is idling after a nice run to record highs and ahead of a Fed decision, while some idiosyncratic flows goose the mega-tech stocks and the S & P 500 with them.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
After that, production would temporarily cease with operations idling until October 2025 in order to complete retooling work to prepare the facility for production of the 2026 model year.
—Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Service is also a realistic story about a frustrated middle-aged former journalist and aspiring novelist idling in an ultra-low-paying job.
—Susan Coll
september 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
The boat was idling when his dog was hit by the blades, Johnson said in the release.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
For example, students in Australia led a successful initiative to improve air quality around their schools by having parents cut down on engine idling time.
—Ana Santos Rutschman, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Families escaped to calm waters for canoeing, hiking, and long afternoons spent idling on the shore.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
The filtration system must be robust enough to perform under stop-and-go driving, prolonged idling and urban pollution while also remaining effective between filter replacements.
—Anan Bishara, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Avoid excessive idling and do not top off when refueling motor vehicles.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The majority of the market is idling after a nice run to record highs and ahead of a Fed decision, while some idiosyncratic flows goose the mega-tech stocks and the S & P 500 with them.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
After that, production would temporarily cease with operations idling until October 2025 in order to complete retooling work to prepare the facility for production of the 2026 model year.
—Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Service is also a realistic story about a frustrated middle-aged former journalist and aspiring novelist idling in an ultra-low-paying job.
—Susan Coll
september 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
The boat was idling when his dog was hit by the blades, Johnson said in the release.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
For example, students in Australia led a successful initiative to improve air quality around their schools by having parents cut down on engine idling time.
—Ana Santos Rutschman, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Families escaped to calm waters for canoeing, hiking, and long afternoons spent idling on the shore.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idling
Verb
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Within a few moments, an antlerless deer emerged, loafing along toward Ronnie, completely unalarmed.—
Jim Moore,
Outdoor Life,
8 Oct. 2025
-
She is seen going over the shots planned for the next day and remembering that some loafing around is planned.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The seat backs are slightly curved for comfortable lounging, while the black aluminum frame adds a sleek and modern feel to the design.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
8 Oct. 2025
-
For travel or lounging, pull on the Stanpetix Sweatpants Joggers that feel buttery soft and stretchy.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tomasek’s power play misses After Demko gloved his shot from the slot, David Tomasek bent over with his stick resting across his knees and bowed his head.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
My depression doesn’t look like the stereotypes of a woman with a resting sad face.—
Ashley Womble,
SELF,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Compared to its shorter-interval workouts, for example, the Norwegian 4x4 is especially effective at raising VO2 max and, in turn, at building endurance, experts previously told SELF.—
Marissa Gold,
SELF,
9 Oct. 2025
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In a viral video, fitness coach Eugene Teo explains this method of interval-style walking, which involves alternating between walking fast for three minutes and walking slow for three minutes, for five sets in half an hour.—
Marisa McMillan,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The episode came to an end with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) watching the flames engulf the building — a chilling parallel to the scene in season 13, during which showed her watch the hospital burn from the parking lot as well.—
Stephanie Wenger,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
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The series is set in the seemingly idyllic town of Blooming Hills, where unknown forces unleash chilling terrors on local teens.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Spend your days leaf peeping on a scenic drive, hiking to waterfalls tucked deep in the woods, strolling through quaint downtowns, and sitting down for dinner next to a crackling fireplace at the end of it all.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
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There are farmers' markets all over the county offering everything from fruits and veggies to jams and maple syrup, and picturesque towns and villages like Fleischmanns, Walton, and Hobart provide scenic locales for strolling, shopping, and dining.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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 15 Oct. 2025.
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