Word
idly
US/ˈaɪdɫi/
UK/ˈaɪdli/
Definition
adv. to do something without a clear purpose or because you are bored. You use this when you are just passing time without any real work.
adv. to engage in an activity without a specific goal or purpose; to pass time in a lazy or unproductive manner.
Examples
“He sat by the window and idly watched the rain.”
“She idly flipped through the magazine while waiting for the coffee to finish brewing.”
“The old man spent his afternoons idly wandering through the park, often stopping to chat with the local shopkeepers about the weather and the passing seasons.”
Examples
simple
“He sat by the window and idly watched the rain.”
contextual
“She idly flipped through the magazine while waiting for the coffee to finish brewing.”
complex
“The old man spent his afternoons idly wandering through the park, often stopping to chat with the local shopkeepers about the weather and the passing seasons.”
Real-World Examples
“In the top image, a rover’s stored energy climbs while it charges in sunlight, then falls at the same rate whether it is working or waiting idly.” Etymology
From Middle English idely, ydelly, idelliche, from Old English īdellīċe, equivalent to idle + -ly.
From Tamil இட்லி (iṭli), Kannada ಇಡ್ಲಿ (iḍli).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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