as in lounging
to spend time doing nothing
she likes to idle during the summer and recharge herself for the fall semester we idled away the evening relaxing around the campfire
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Recent Examples of idling
Anan Bishara, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Avoid excessive idling and do not top off when refueling motor vehicles.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The majority of the market is idling after a nice run to record highs and ahead of a Fed decision, while some idiosyncratic flows goose the mega-tech stocks and the S & P 500 with them.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
After that, production would temporarily cease with operations idling until October 2025 in order to complete retooling work to prepare the facility for production of the 2026 model year.
—Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Service is also a realistic story about a frustrated middle-aged former journalist and aspiring novelist idling in an ultra-low-paying job.
—Susan Coll
september 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
The boat was idling when his dog was hit by the blades, Johnson said in the release.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
For example, students in Australia led a successful initiative to improve air quality around their schools by having parents cut down on engine idling time.
—Ana Santos Rutschman, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Families escaped to calm waters for canoeing, hiking, and long afternoons spent idling on the shore.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
The filtration system must be robust enough to perform under stop-and-go driving, prolonged idling and urban pollution while also remaining effective between filter replacements.
—Anan Bishara, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Avoid excessive idling and do not top off when refueling motor vehicles.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The majority of the market is idling after a nice run to record highs and ahead of a Fed decision, while some idiosyncratic flows goose the mega-tech stocks and the S & P 500 with them.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
After that, production would temporarily cease with operations idling until October 2025 in order to complete retooling work to prepare the facility for production of the 2026 model year.
—Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Service is also a realistic story about a frustrated middle-aged former journalist and aspiring novelist idling in an ultra-low-paying job.
—Susan Coll
september 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
The boat was idling when his dog was hit by the blades, Johnson said in the release.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
For example, students in Australia led a successful initiative to improve air quality around their schools by having parents cut down on engine idling time.
—Ana Santos Rutschman, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Families escaped to calm waters for canoeing, hiking, and long afternoons spent idling on the shore.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idling
Verb
-
Understand the difference between roosts, feeds, and loafing spots.—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Outdoors, the sprawling grounds are laced with bluestone hardscaping, mature olive trees, tall hedges, and numerous alfresco lounging and entertaining terraces.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Or, package deal together this chair set, umbrella, and gazebo for the ultimate lounging experience.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
CFMoto is not resting on its laurels, having just recently revealed its first-ever inline-four sports motorcycle.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The visible-light photo, taken by one of Maxar Technologies' WorldView Legion satellites orbiting at an altitude of 312 miles (518 kilometers), shows what appears to be a fleet of fighter jets resting on the ramp adjacent to the runway surrounded by brown, arid soil.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Dedicate regular time, even short intervals, specifically for inquiry and reflection.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Sarr had also headed over the crossbar from a set piece before the interval.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
While this criticism is overstated, as a lot of his books have bone-chilling finales or thematically rich conclusions, there are certainly a lot of stories where he's failed to land the plane.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Ready to dive into the bone-chilling world of The Conjuring?—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The expansion will add new areas for strolling and hanging out.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Cape May is not only scenic but a perfect beach town, with a promenade for strolling or biking and a myriad of excellent restaurants serving local seafood.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And poor, engine‑damaging quality or not, the ersatz aviation fuel had to work only once to get a kamikaze plane up and away to hit one of the enemy warships now lazing about in the offing around the Home Islands, often close enough to be spotted from shore with the naked eye.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idling. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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