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idle

/ˈaɪd(ə)l/verb

To pass time doing nothing useful; to be inactive or without work.

Example sentences

  • “He idled away the afternoon watching clouds drift by.”
  • “The machines idled while the factory waited for parts.”

Do not confuse with 'idol', a worshipped figure. The two sound identical.

Related words

idyllicWonderfully peaceful, beautiful, or happy, like a scene from a perfect painting.idiosyncrasyA habit or way of thinking that is particular to one person.igniteTo make something start burning.hysteriaA disorder in which a person has physical symptoms such as numbness, blindness, or paralysis that no medical cause can explain.illicitSomething that is forbidden or against the law.hyperlinkA piece of text or an image on a screen that you can click to open another page or start an action.