Antonyms for idles

Grammar : Verb

Spell : ahyd-l

Phonetic Transcription : ˈaɪd l

Definition of idles

Origin : Old English idel "empty, void; vain; worthless, useless; not employed," common West Germanic (cf. Old Saxon idal, Old Frisian idel "empty, worthless," Old Dutch idil, Old High German ital, German eitel "vain, useless, mere, pure"), of unknown origin. Idle threats preserves original sense; meaning "lazy" is c.1300.

As in lag : verb move slowly; delay
As in linger : verb loiter, delay
As in loaf : verb be idle, lazy
As in loiter : verb hang around; stroll
As in loll : verb lay sprawled
As in lounge : verb lie about, waste time
As in moon : verb dream about; desire
As in mope : verb pout, be dejected
As in poke : verb move along slowly
As in rest : verb be calm; sleep
As in slack/slacken : verb do little or nothing; loosen
As in spend : verb use time; occupy
As in stagnate : verb deteriorate by lack of action
As in trifle : verb toy with; mess around
As in vegetate : verb be very passive
As in dillydally : verb dawdle
As in immobilize : verb tie
As in dabble : verb play at; tinker
As in dally : verb dawdle, delay
As in dawdle : verb delay; waste time
As in fool around : verb waste time
As in fritter : verb waste away

Example sentences :

The whole year is lost to him who sleeps or idles away the seed-time.
Extract from : « Masterpieces of Negro Eloquence » by Various

The longer one idles the more difficult it is to make a start.
Extract from : « Aliens » by William McFee

I really think an Italian idles more complacently and contentedly and picturesquely than any other mortal.
Extract from : « Polly the Pagan » by Isabel Anderson

Here and there idles an immaculate and lynx-eyed customs guard in sailors uniform.
Extract from : « Vistas in Sicily » by Arthur Stanley Riggs

All the idles of Chicago hired by the city hall could not keep control of the snow on the streets.
Extract from : « Conversion of a High Priest into a Christian Worker » by Meletios Golden

Bummer, literally one who sits or idles about; a loafer; one who sponges upon his acquaintances.
Extract from : « The Slang Dictionary » by John Camden Hotten

He idles along the street and looks in through the windows at Prints upon the walls.
Extract from : « Marching Men » by Sherwood Anderson

But the angler who idles down the stream takes them as they come, and all his observations have a flavour of surprise in them.
Extract from : « Fisherman's Luck » by Henry van Dyke

Thus he idles away all his time, and all his business with his sences runs a wool-gathering.
Extract from : « The Ten Pleasures of Marriage and The Confession of the New-married Couple (1682) » by A. Marsh

Labour is the curse and the qualification, also; and so the dullard who toils shall beat the genius who idles.
Extract from : « The Tenants of Malory » by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Synonyms for idles

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019