idles

Definition of idlesnext
present tense third-person singular of idle

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of idles As your car idles, warm air blown from the top of your dashboard will melt the ice on the outside of the windshield. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025 Security camera footage shows a black vehicle park in front of Café Bernardo, a restaurant, and idles for about two minutes. Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2025 The high-output Arco Zeus alternator cuts recharge time in half compared to earlier models and can charge the battery bank even while the Sprinter engine idles. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2025 The film just idles on the runway. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025 As our car idles, Lucas Nascimento Morgado, a young biologist who works for a jaguar NGO called Onçafari here in the southern Brazilian Pantanal, grins giddily. Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idles
Verb
  • But while the new movie dawdles on its way to Toxie’s origins, then rushes toward a finale with a lurching rhythm that verges on calculated ineptitude, its spirit never feels inauthentic.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Somebody who is just living greatness and never rests on that laurel, but is always pushing herself to expand as an artist.
    Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The whole security architecture rests on those layers.
    Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Inhalers often contain albuterol, a bronchodilator that relaxes the muscles and opens up the airway.
    Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Pete Davidson relaxes backstage before taking to the carpet for CinemaCon to promote his upcoming film How to Rob a Bank in Las Vegas on April 15.
    Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The teeth will flash, first, before the rest of Jonah Coleman’s blue-collar frame strolls into Denver’s facility in the weeks to come.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
  • And then, right as Joe’s already prevalent rage is on the precipice of going nuclear, a CGI giraffe nonchalantly strolls past a third-story window in the background.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Again, Madueke plays short to Odegaard, with Havertz, White and Zubimendi moving towards the ball.
    Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The Audacity creator Jonathan Glatzer and star Billy Magnussen, who plays wealthy tech CEO Duncan Park, took the stage at Deadline Contenders TV to talk about taking the tech monster lurking in the shadows and those responsible for its existence, and turning it into a comedy.
    Amanda Champagne-Meadows, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • This nifty side table chills beverages for hours while doubling as a convenient spot to set down drinks or snacks.
    Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
  • The current crisis in Iran has sent memories bubbling to the surface for the collective, and chills down the spines of viewers.
    Chloe Shrager, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Critical thinking really bums them out.
    Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Then Jason and Thor shower together, each lathering the other’s back and bums up with fewer orgasms than an old Herbal Essences commercial.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The threat of death always lingers – just ask my wooden stairs.
    David Oliver, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The Panama Canal is experiencing an uptick in traffic and generating more lucrative bids to transit the trade artery, aligning with a spike in demand for its reservation system as the Iran war lingers and uncertainty persists regarding the safety of the Strait of Hormuz.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Idles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idles. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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