# idle

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈaɪd(ə)l/ · frequency rank #11,235

## Definitions
1. Empty, vacant.
2. Not being used appropriately; not occupied; (of time) with no, no important, or not much activity.
3. Not engaged in any occupation or employment; unemployed; inactive; doing nothing in particular.
4. Averse to work, labor or employment; lazy; slothful.
5. Of no importance; useless; worthless; vain; trifling; thoughtless; silly.
6. Light-headed; foolish.

## Etymology
From Middle English idel, ydel, from Old English īdel, from Proto-West Germanic *īdal, from Proto-Germanic *īdalaz. Cognate with Dutch ijdel (“vain, meaningless”), ijl (“rareified, skinny”), iel (“thin, slender”); German Low German iedel (“vain, idle”); German eitel (“vain, conceited”); and possibly Old Norse illr ("bad"; > English ill).

## Easily confused with
- **ill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ill)
- **IRL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-irl)
- **Ike** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ike)
- **IDS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ids)
- **ire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ire)
- **IPL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ipl)
- **ilk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ilk)
- **ile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ile)
- **ILS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ils)
- **IGE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ige)
- **IME** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ime)
- **idol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-idol)
- **isle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-isle)
- **IEEE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ieee)
- **Isla** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-isla)
- **ills** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ills)
- **idly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-idly)
- **Ince** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-ince)
- **indie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-indie)
- **inlet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/idle-vs-inlet)

## Common misspellings (5)
`dile`, `iddle`, `idel`, `idlle`, `ilde`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/idle