idle

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"But it's not lost on me that these are not idle threats," Balmer said.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Four U.A.E. flags fluttered from the roof in the afternoon breeze, while a small fleet of roughly two dozen school buses stood idle beside the compound.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Uploads and downloads were fast and didn’t idle.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Taiwan has at least three months of oil stockpiled, and it is turning on some of its coal-fired plants, 40% of which are typically idle, and buying coal from Indonesia and Australia.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

I turned on the hall light and found myself looking at the books, an idle activity.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam