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idly

[ahyd-lee] / ˈaɪd li /
ADVERB
lazily
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He now spends the long hours idly scrolling through his phone or chatting with neighbours.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Maybe it is plainly shameful to sit idly by, waiting for the police to peel back more layers of abominable detail, so it can be quickly disseminated to a hungry audience.

From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026

Maddox Batson sits in a swivel chair in a West Hollywood recording studio on a recent evening, spinning idly as his mother and manager go over their plans for the next few days.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

No government would sit idly by as its citizens were subjected to such unfathomable horrors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

I wondered idly as I watched Father’s brown beard rise and fall with the words.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom




Vocabulary lists containing idly


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