idles

verb

present tense third-person singular of idle
as in lazes
to spend time doing nothing she likes to idle during the summer and recharge herself for the fall semester we idled away the evening relaxing around the campfire

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of idles As your car idles, warm air blown from the top of your dashboard will melt the ice on the outside of the windshield. — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025 Security camera footage shows a black vehicle park in front of Café Bernardo, a restaurant, and idles for about two minutes. — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2025 The high-output Arco Zeus alternator cuts recharge time in half compared to earlier models and can charge the battery bank even while the Sprinter engine idles. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2025 The film just idles on the runway. — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025 As our car idles, Lucas Nascimento Morgado, a young biologist who works for a jaguar NGO called Onçafari here in the southern Brazilian Pantanal, grins giddily. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idles
  1. dawdles
  2. rests
  3. relaxes
  4. strolls
  5. plays
  6. chills
  7. bums
  8. mucks
Verb
  • But Koreeda dawdles over all that without ever finding much dramatic nuance, making for a dullish midsection.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
  • But while the new movie dawdles on its way to Toxie’s origins, then rushes toward a finale with a lurching rhythm that verges on calculated ineptitude, its spirit never feels inauthentic.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Definition of dawdles
Verb
  • But as Bengals fans know all too well, this season rests on whether Burrow can stay healthy.
    — Takashi Williams, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The receiver-in-canal (RIC) design has a main body that rests behind the ear.
    — John Higgins, The Verge, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of rests
Verb
  • And then of course the jacuzzi, which releases tension and relaxes the muscles.
    — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The advocates argue that the bill relaxes age-verification requirements and includes an advertising carveout for Google.
    — Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of relaxes
Verb
  • Erika Girardi strolls in, followed by Teddi Mellencamp and her new Rachel Maddow power-lesbian haircut.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Reacher is a behemoth who strolls into towns in the South and the American heartland.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of strolls
Verb
  • Sabally’s younger sister Nyara, who plays for the Toronto Tempo, is yet to make her comeback from a calf injury, while Liberty’s Leonie Fiebich, another key player, is just back from a foot injury.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In adults, the hormone plays a role in blood sugar control, bone density and muscle growth.
    — Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of plays
Verb
  • The use of rap lyrics as evidence in criminal trials is controversial, with critics saying the practice chills creative expression and allows prosecutors to distort hyperbolic art in ways that reinforce racist stereotypes.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities say the case grew from overseas shipments flagged by customs, marking a third round of national security arrests that further chills Hong Kong’s already precarious independent book trade.
    — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of chills
Verb
  • The joy Lisa has with her RHUGT cast compared with the dread her RHOSLC cast seems to bring her really bums me out — especially because of how much of this trip is championing the sisterhood of Housewives.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Critical thinking really bums them out.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of bums
Verb
  • But the coach never mucks around.
    — Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 10 May 2026
Definition of mucks

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Idles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idles. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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