idle has definitions from the field of work
1
[ adjective ] not in action or at work

Examples

"an idle laborer" "idle drifters" "the idle rich" "an idle mind"

Used in print

(The Dallas Morning News,...)

Texas leads in per game rushing averages , 355 yards , and passing 149 ( to Baylor 's 126 ) , but idle Baylor has the best defensive record ( 187.5 yards per game to Texas ' 189 ) .

(Frank Getlein and Harold C. Gardiner, S.J., Movies,...)

When he came to the movies - more_or_less by accident - they were still cheap entertainment capable of enthralling the unthinking for an idle few minutes .

(Louis Zara, Dark Rider....)

Papa pointed a scornful finger at the splashing youth : `` Idle recreation '' !

2
[ verb ] run disconnected or idle

Synonyms

tick_over

Examples

"the engine is idling"

Used in print

(Richard Sanders Allen, "When Fogg Flew the Mail"...)

A plume of smoke rose from a Central_Vermont locomotive which idled behind a string of gravel cars , and little figures that were workmen labored to set the ruptured roadbed to rights .

It ticked over smoothly , idling while Fogg exchanged mails with the armed messenger from Burlington at Fort_Ethan_Allen , and one from Montpelier and Barre at the St._John field .

Related terms

run

3
[ verb ] be idle; exist in a changeless situation

Synonyms

laze slug stagnate

Examples

"The old man sat and stagnated on his porch" "He slugged in bed all morning"

Used in print

(Louis Zara, Dark Rider....)

The veterans , idling on their benches in the Square , beneath the soldiers ' monument , got_to_their_feet when Papa approached : `` Morning , Reverend '' !

4
[ adjective ] without a basis in reason or fact

Examples

"baseless gossip" "the allegations proved groundless" "idle fears" "unfounded suspicions" "unwarranted jealousy"

Used in print

(Gene Caesar, Rifle for Rent....)

A good many beef hungry settlers were accepting the death of William_Lewis as proof that the warning notes were not idle threats .

Related terms

unsupported

5
[ adjective ] not in active use

Synonyms

unused

Examples

"the machinery sat idle during the strike" "idle hands"

Related terms

inactive

6
[ adjective ] silly or trivial

Synonyms

light

Examples

"idle pleasure" "light banter" "light idle chatter"

Related terms

frivolous

7
[ adjective ] lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility

Synonyms

loose

Examples

"idle talk" "a loose tongue"

Related terms

irresponsible

8
[ adjective ] not yielding a return

Synonyms

dead

Examples

"dead capital" "idle funds"

Related terms

unprofitable

9
[ adjective ] (work) not having a job

Synonyms

out_of_work jobless

Examples

"idle carpenters" "jobless transients" "many people in the area were out of work"

Related terms

unemployed

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