idle
adjective
not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing.
idling
-
present participleof idle.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
On a recent Tuesday evening, a 16 Handles store in Manhattan was filled with teens idling at tables and charging their phones.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
The officer walked up to my idling Impala and informed me that my left taillight was out.
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026
Missing from the gathering: attendees in flamboyant orange bitcoin suits roaming the halls and Lamborghinis idling out front—the flashy hallmarks of crypto’s boom years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
Three horses have become two, but Hearts are out in front and show no sign of idling.
From BBC ● May 4, 2026
The Man in the White Shirt picked up his pace as he saw the buses lined up in the commuter lot, engines idling at a low rumble.
From "Eleven" by Tom Rogers
