English dictionary



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English adjective: idle

1. idle not in action or at work


SamplesAn idle laborer.
Idle drifters.
The idle rich.
An idle mind.


Similarbone-idle, bone-lazy, faineant, indolent, lackadaisical, lazy, leisured, otiose, slothful, unengaged, work-shy


See alsoineffective, ineffectual, uneffective, unemployed


Antonymsbusy

2. idle without a basis in reason or fact


SamplesBaseless gossip.
The allegations proved groundless.
Idle fears.
Unfounded suspicions.
Unwarranted jealousy.


Synonymsbaseless, groundless, unfounded, unwarranted, wild


Similarunsupported


Antonymssupported

3. idle not in active use


SamplesThe machinery sat idle during the strike.
Idle hands.


Synonymsunused


Similarinactive


Antonymsactive

4. idle silly or trivial


SamplesIdle pleasure.
Light banter.
Light idle chatter.


Synonymslight


Similarfrivolous


Antonymsserious

5. idle lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility


SamplesIdle talk.
A loose tongue.


Synonymsloose


Similarirresponsible


Antonymsresponsible

6. idle not yielding a return


SamplesDead capital.
Idle funds.


Synonymsdead


Similarunprofitable


Antonymsprofitable

7. idle not having a job


SamplesIdle carpenters.
Jobless transients.
Many people in the area were out of work.


Synonymsjobless, out of work


Similarunemployed


Antonymsemployed


English noun: idle

1. idle (state) the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling


SamplesThe car engine was running at idle.


Broader (hypernym)operation


English verb: idle

1. idle (contact) run disconnected or idle


SamplesThe engine is idling.


Synonymstick over


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Antonymsrun

2. idle (social) be idle; exist in a changeless situation


SamplesThe old man sat and stagnated on his porch.
He slugged in bed all morning.


Synonymslaze, slug, stagnate


Pattern of useSomebody ----s


Narrower (hyponym)arse about, arse around, bum, bum about, bum around, daydream, frig around, fuck off, lie about, lie around, loaf, loll, loll around, lounge about, lounge around, moon, moon, moon around, moon on, ride the bench, warm the bench, waste one's time


Antonymswork









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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