idle
adjective
not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing.
was idling
-
past progressiveof idle.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Another resident reported that, in April, a Waymo was idling for more than five minutes in front of the entrance to a church parking garage during a Sunday service, preventing parishioners from entering and exiting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
One time, I suggested that a woman on a call drive to a nearby gas station to meet me because an ICE vehicle was idling outside her home and she was audibly terrified.
From Slate ● Jan. 23, 2026
Police said they noticed the suspects when their car was idling at a green light around 2:15 a.m.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 7, 2023
High yields and a relatively strong dollar have been a headwind for gold which was idling at $1,914 an ounce .
From Reuters ● Aug. 28, 2023
A light snow had fallen, and one car’s engine was idling.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
