idly

[ahyd-lee]

adverb

1. without taking action or showing concern.

   We cannot stand idly by and let evil prevail!

2. without apparent purpose or intention; aimlessly.

   He would tinker idly in his workshop for hours.

3. in a lazy way; indolently.

   Neither of them does anything much in life besides live idly or recklessly.

Other Word Forms

• overidly adverb
• unidly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of idly¹

id(le) ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

The sails had gone slack, and the disappointed girl slumped in one of the cozy nursery chairs and clicked idly at the beads of her abacus: back and forth, back and forth.

Read more on Literature

While alcohol isn’t good for you, one does wonder if we wouldn’t all be healthier if more men watched sports with friends in bars, using the downtime to talk instead of idly tap at screens.

Read more on Salon

Israeli forces have long been criticised by human rights groups for standing idly by during settler attacks - or even taking part in them.

Read more on BBC

He said the directive to his troops is clear to “not stand idly by, and do everything in your power to prevent any act of nationalist crime.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It doesn’t have to be a full project — just a few trays in the oven while you do laundry or scroll idly.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• leisurely 
• nonchalantly 
• slowly