Standard Lemma guide

idly

adv · noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˈaɪd(ə)lɪ/
  • CMU ARPABET: AY1 D L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

Without specific purpose, intent or effort.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I idly played with the paper, not even realizing I was folding it into a paper airplane.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

In an idle manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Alternative spelling of idli.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

in an idle manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • this is what I always imagined myself doing in the south of France, sitting idly, drinking coffee, watching the people

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lazily

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English idely, ydelly, idelliche, from Old English īdellīċe, equivalent to idle + -ly.

From Tamil இட்லி (iṭli), Kannada ಇಡ್ಲಿ (iḍli).

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hungarian: szórakozottan — without specific purpose, intent or effort
  • Ingrian: jouten — without specific purpose, intent or effort
  • Middle English: ydelly — without specific purpose, intent or effort
  • Esperanto: senokupe — in an idle manner
  • Hungarian: tétlenül — in an idle manner
  • Middle English: ydelly — in an idle manner
  • Polish: bezczynnie — in an idle manner