The meaning of IDLY is in an idle manner. How to use idly in a sentence.

IDLY definition: without taking action or showing concern. See examples of idly used in a sentence.

Laziness and lazy people Passive and not working (Definition of idly from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Definition of idly adverb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

IDLY definition: unemployed or unoccupied ; inactive | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples in American English

Jun 23, 2025 · Adverb idly (comparative more idly, superlative most idly) Without specific purpose, intent or effort. [from 9th c.]

Define idly. idly synonyms, idly pronunciation, idly translation, English dictionary definition of idly. adj. i·dler , i·dlest 1. a. Not employed or busy: idle carpenters. See Synonyms at inactive. b. …

Without specific purpose, intent or effort. I idly played with the paper, not even realizing I was folding it into a paper airplane.

There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the adverb idly, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

The word "idly" is an adverb derived from the adjective "idle," which has its roots from the Old English "idela," meaning "empty" or "unoccupied." Understanding "idly" requires examining its …