Idle Definition & Meaning
idle
- adjective
- not in action or at work; "an idle laborer"; "idle drifters"; "the idle rich"; "an idle mind"
- without a basis in reason or fact; "baseless gossip"; "the allegations proved groundless"; "idle fears"; "unfounded suspicions"; "unwarranted jealousy"
- not in active use; "the machinery sat idle during the strike"; "idle hands"
- silly or trivial; "idle pleasure"; "light banter"; "light idle chatter"
- lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility; "idle talk"; "a loose tongue"
- not yielding a return; "dead capital"; "idle funds"
- not having a job; "idle carpenters"; "jobless transients"; "many people in the area were out of work"
- noun
- the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling; "the car engine was running at idle"
- verb
- run disconnected or idle; "the engine is idling"
- be idle; exist in a changeless situation; "The old man sat and stagnated on his porch"; "He slugged in bed all morning"
"Idle" in song lyrics
See how idle is used in real songs:
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"Lady on the train lookin at me idle"
C-Rayz Walz — The Essence -
"her life is gettin' frail, her mind is always idle"
Da Backwudz — Feelin' Lonely -
"Why sit around idle?"
MURS — Simple
Words that rhyme with idle
Usage tips for "idle"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "idle" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for idle to find words that pair well.
Use "idle" in a verse
Now that you know what "idle" means, try using it in your own lyrics:
Generate a verseFrequently asked questions
- What does idle mean?
- not in action or at work; "an idle laborer"; "idle drifters"; "the idle rich"; "an idle mind" without a basis in reason or fact; "baseless gossip"; "the allegations proved groundless"; "idle fears"; "unfounded suspicions"; "unwarranted jealousy" not in active use; "the machinery sat idle during the strike"; "idle hands" silly or trivial; "idle pleasure"; "light banter"; "light idle chatter" lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility; "idle talk"; "a loose tongue" not yielding a return
- What part of speech is idle?
- Idle is an adjective, a noun, and a verb.
- How many definitions does idle have?
- Idle has 10 definitions across 3 parts of speech (adjective, noun, verb).