C1verbtransportenvironment
US/ˈaɪ.dəl/
UK/ˈaɪ.dəl/
(of a vehicle or engine) to keep running while not going anywhere; also to pass time doing nothing
In context
Taxis idle outside the hotel all day, filling the street with fumes.
Please switch off your engine instead of idling at the school gate.
We idled away the afternoon in a hammock by the river.
Words that go with idle
adjective + noun
- idling engineThe noise of an idling engine kept me awake.
- idling vehiclesFumes from idling vehicles make the air near schools dirty.
verb + adverb
- idle awayRetired men idle away the mornings over tea and chess.
- idle outsideA delivery truck idled outside our window for half an hour.
verb + preposition
- idle forBuses are not allowed to idle for more than two minutes at the stop.