adjective / verb
idle
EYE-dul/ˈaɪdl/
Inactive with respect to productive work.
The sewing machine sits idle on the table, its cord unplugged.
Etymology
Old English idel meant “empty” or “useless.” In English, this developed into “not doing work,” first for people and later for things and machinery; the word’s deeper origin is unknown.
In context
an idle and inactive leisure." We can only see the sublimity of things by acting and being active.
More examples
- The crew remains idle while waiting for supplies.
- The bus idles at the curb while passengers board.
- Please avoid leaving your engine idling in the driveway.
Forms
idle · idler · idlest · idles · idled · idling
idleness noun — The state of not doing useful work.
Similar words
- inactive
- Describes lack of activity, not specifically lack of productive work.
- unoccupied
- Describes someone with no task or activity at hand.
- unused
- Describes something not being used, rather than a running engine.