idleness
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of idleness
before 1000; idle ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )
Explanation
Idleness is a characteristic of being inactive. Your idleness over the summer means you really didn't do much — besides snoozing in a hammock and sipping lemonade. Anything that's not in motion has the quality of idleness, whether it's a car sitting in a parking lot with its motor running or a lazy dog lounging on the couch. This noun is often used to mean laziness, particularly when someone's not doing what they should: "His boss wasn't happy about his idleness at work." You can also use it in a more positive way: "The idleness of lying on the beach all day is my favorite thing ever."
Vocabulary lists containing idleness
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
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By the Great Horn Spoon!
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War Horse
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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.
Retained from the original poem are the God of Love, Lady Reason, Shame, Idleness and Pleasure.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2023
Idleness has a way of creeping up on Kevin Williams.
From New York Times • Nov. 21, 2014
Idleness apparently doesn't make O'Sullivan ring rusty, it only makes him more lustrous.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2013
Later this formed the basis for his first public collection, Hours of Idleness.
From The Guardian • Aug. 12, 2011
Idleness wasn’t the only reason for the added weight.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
