idle Synonyms
Another word for idle
• adjective (Context 1)
Not active or in use; not employed or occupied.
"Several assembly lines at the manufacturing plant remained inactive during the supply shortage."
• adjective (Context 2)
Avoiding work; habitually lazy or indolent.
"The supervisor reprimanded the lazy apprentices for wasting the entire morning."
• adjective (Context 3)
Without purpose, basis, or practical effect; pointless or groundless.
"She ignored the pointless gossip circulating in the office and focused on her research."
• verb (Context 4)
To spend time doing nothing or avoiding purposeful activity.
"They idled away the warm afternoon on the porch listening to the rain."
• verb (Context 5)
To run slowly out of gear without transmitting power (of an engine or motor).
"The delivery truck idled at the curb while the driver unloaded the packages."
• verb (Context 6)
To cause a factory, machine, or group of workers to become inactive or unemployed.
"The sudden drop in demand idled two regional assembly plants for a month."
Opposites of idle
The opposite of idle shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: