World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesIdle
/ˈaɪ.dl/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
Not active or not engaged in work or activity.
"He spent the afternoon in idle conversation with friends."
- 1
To spend time doing nothing or to be inactive.
"They idled away the hours at the beach."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the Old English 'īdel', meaning vain, empty, useless, or idle, sharing roots with Old High German 'ītal' meaning empty. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from lacking worth or content to spending time without working or being inactive, and later to engines operating while disengaged from a drivetrain.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Idle"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Idle" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
inactif
Transliteration: inactif
"Il a passé l'après-midi en conversation inactif avec des amis."
inaktiv
Transliteration: inaktiv
"Er verbrachte den Nachmittag mit inaktiven Gesprächen mit Freunden."
inattivo
Transliteration: inattivo
"Ha trascorso il pomeriggio in conversazioni inattive con gli amici."
inactivo
Transliteration: inactivo
"Pasó la tarde en conversaciones inactivas con amigos."
inativo
Transliteration: inativo
"Ele passou a tarde em conversas inativas com amigos."
निष्क्रिय
Transliteration: nishkriya
"उसने दोस्तों के साथ निष्क्रिय बातचीत में दोपहर बिताई।"
无所事事
Transliteration: wú suǒ shì shì
"他和朋友们闲聊度过了下午。"
한가한
Transliteration: hangahan
"그는 친구들과 한가한 대화를 나누며 오후를 보냈다."
無為
Transliteration: mui
"彼は友達と無為な会話をしながら午後を過ごしました。"
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