# idly

/ˈaɪdɫi/ (US) · /ˈaɪdli/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/idly
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.