The boat’s engine idled while Grandpa gave a twenty-minute speech about “back in my day” to the fish.
The race car idled at the start line, bragging about how fast it would go while currently going nowhere.
The bus engine idled so long that even the pigeons complained about the noise.
The delivery van idled outside so long that I learned its entire engine soundtrack by heart.
When a car engine idles instead of moving, it still uses fuel and makes pollution—so it’s basically wasting energy while just sitting there doing absolutely nothing.
She sat in the cold car and let the engine idle outside bakery. She let the car idle while she checked her phone. A child dropped warm bread; she let the engine idle a moment more, then let the car idle while she crossed the street, letting it idle too long, shut the engine, and ran out. The child smiled.
🧑🎓 CEFR Level: C1 Advanced
This word is at the C1 level, which means it’s part of advanced English. It’s used in sophisticated conversations, professional settings, and academic discussions. Words at this level help you express yourself fluently and precisely in nuanced situations.
Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.
