idle

The process is somewhat like monitoring a car engine to determine whether it continues running at high speed even when the vehicle is supposed to be idle.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026

A few pieces of heavy equipment sit idle on the vast cleared tract.

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

“The idea that there is all this idle cash sitting around that people aren’t thinking of or intentionally using in some way—I think it’s misplaced,” Wurster said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026

After sitting idle for months at a maintenance facility, it relocated in early July to waters off a strip of coastline known as the Kalma Peninsula.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

And when we pulled off, two and a half miles later, my dad expertly brought the gears down to first, to idle at a red light.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez

There is an almost continuous succession of scenes in which Nicholson sketches this idler, lover, jokester, manipulator, con man, gambler, loner.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2023

Batman co-creator Bob Kane wrote in his 1998 autobiography “Batman and Me”: “The rich foppish Don Diego, Zorro’s alter ego, inspired Bruce Wayne’s facade of being a bored, wealthy idler and playboy.”

From Washington Post ● Dec. 29, 2020

Oh, that would be the uncle who willed his farm and estate to Onegin, a charming idler.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 9, 2020

Only time will tell which version of Sissoko Tottenham have got: the often sullen idler who irritated Newcastle fans or the inspirational player who so impressively raised his game in June.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 9, 2016

It had its origin in the 12:10 down train from Euston to Holyhead, which carried, among other passengers, Charles Maitland of the Temple, barrister by theory and idler by, or for want of, practice.

From The King's Stratagem and Other Stories by Stanley John Weyman

Shettleston is one of Britain’s poorest, idlest and sickest places; at 64, male life expectancy is 15 years below the national average and falling.

From Economist ● Jul. 10, 2014

On the idlest previous day in the history of the bureau, Feb. 25, 1932, there had been 56 licenses issued.

From Time Magazine Archive

The subject was idlest village gossip, but it served to divert Hallam's thoughts from his impending errand, and he arrived at the office of the mill in good spirits.

From Reels and Spindles A Story of Mill Life by Frank T. (Frank Thayer) Merrill

Oh, be very sure the idlest man is the man most truly unhappy!

From Practical Religion Being Plain Papers on the Daily Duties, Experience, Dangers, and Privileges of Professing Christians by John Charles Ryle

In such a composition the idlest chronicler would find something to say under each year, and notices of either local events, or the great events of general interest, could scarcely fail to be entered.

From The Ethnology of the British Islands by R. G. (Robert Gordon) Latham

The company has said it could lay off as many as 500 workers as it idles cold-rolled and coated steel operations in Hamilton, Ontario, and concentrates on hot-roll products.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

On a warm day in mid-May, Grohl appears relaxed and self-assured — but not arrogant — as she idles on a sofa in a cozy Studio City ADU owned by her publicist.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026

As I sit in the car with C after the second ICE vehicle sped off, the remaining Wagoneer idles midblock—right in front of C’s house.

From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2026

A carpenter whose own narrowboat is moored in a clump of four boats says that when one of his neighbours idles her older diesel engine, the exhaust seeps right into his boat, nearly choking him.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2023

Connor and I sit in the back seat as the car idles.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

That list includes everything from design changes during construction to supply-chain challenges that at times idled a huge on-site labor force.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

He said he wanted to restore idled mines to profitability and keep miners employed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

His girlfriend, Britany Jacobs, idled their car in a disabled parking spot, accompanied by the couple’s other child.

From Slate ● Jun. 4, 2026

He voiced his rage over an empty reservoir, idled fire trucks and what he called dangerous brush clearance policies.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026

Strikers idled in bars around the Yard, staring out the window at the steady stream of men and women the packers were bringing in.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield

Fixating on my fishing rod, I had allowed the idling machine to bottom out in the shell spoil, some of which got sucked into the intake.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

He has introduced bonuses for drivers who can squeeze more mileage by reducing idling and driving more slowly.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

His comments on the sidelines of G20 talks come as Russian and Ukrainian strikes targeting Black Sea ports have been wrecking and idling agricultural export capacity more quickly than trade flows can recover.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

Llyr Gruffydd, cabinet minister for rural resilience and sustainability, said the £20 fixed fine for idling was "insufficient", and not being used "in the way everyone might envision it".

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

About a hundred feet from the store he turned the tractor halfway around and stopped it, leaving the engine idling.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien