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Antonyms for idles


Grammar : Verb
Spell : ahyd-l
Phonetic Transcription : ˈaɪd l



Definition of idles

Origin :
  • Old English idel "empty, void; vain; worthless, useless; not employed," common West Germanic (cf. Old Saxon idal, Old Frisian idel "empty, worthless," Old Dutch idil, Old High German ital, German eitel "vain, useless, mere, pure"), of unknown origin. Idle threats preserves original sense; meaning "lazy" is c.1300.
  • As in lag : verb move slowly; delay
  • As in linger : verb loiter, delay
  • As in loaf : verb be idle, lazy
  • As in loiter : verb hang around; stroll
  • As in loll : verb lay sprawled
  • As in lounge : verb lie about, waste time
  • As in moon : verb dream about; desire
  • As in mope : verb pout, be dejected
  • As in poke : verb move along slowly
  • As in rest : verb be calm; sleep
  • As in slack/slacken : verb do little or nothing; loosen
  • As in spend : verb use time; occupy
  • As in stagnate : verb deteriorate by lack of action
  • As in trifle : verb toy with; mess around
  • As in vegetate : verb be very passive
  • As in dillydally : verb dawdle
  • As in immobilize : verb tie
  • As in dabble : verb play at; tinker
  • As in dally : verb dawdle, delay
  • As in dawdle : verb delay; waste time
  • As in fool around : verb waste time
  • As in fritter : verb waste away
Example sentences :
  • The whole year is lost to him who sleeps or idles away the seed-time.
  • Extract from : « Masterpieces of Negro Eloquence » by Various
  • The longer one idles the more difficult it is to make a start.
  • Extract from : « Aliens » by William McFee
  • I really think an Italian idles more complacently and contentedly and picturesquely than any other mortal.
  • Extract from : « Polly the Pagan » by Isabel Anderson
  • Here and there idles an immaculate and lynx-eyed customs guard in sailors uniform.
  • Extract from : « Vistas in Sicily » by Arthur Stanley Riggs
  • All the idles of Chicago hired by the city hall could not keep control of the snow on the streets.
  • Extract from : « Conversion of a High Priest into a Christian Worker » by Meletios Golden
  • Bummer, literally one who sits or idles about; a loafer; one who sponges upon his acquaintances.
  • Extract from : « The Slang Dictionary » by John Camden Hotten
  • He idles along the street and looks in through the windows at Prints upon the walls.
  • Extract from : « Marching Men » by Sherwood Anderson
  • But the angler who idles down the stream takes them as they come, and all his observations have a flavour of surprise in them.
  • Extract from : « Fisherman's Luck » by Henry van Dyke
  • Thus he idles away all his time, and all his business with his sences runs a wool-gathering.
  • Extract from : « The Ten Pleasures of Marriage and The Confession of the New-married Couple (1682) » by A. Marsh
  • Labour is the curse and the qualification, also; and so the dullard who toils shall beat the genius who idles.
  • Extract from : « The Tenants of Malory » by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Synonyms for idles

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019