idly

/ˈaɪdli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈaɪdli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈī-dᵊl-ē ˈīd-lē/ (ame, mw)

idly — adverb

1. in a way that lacks a clear purpose or serious intention, done mainly to pass ti

1.副詞B2
釋義

in a way that lacks a clear purpose or serious intention, done mainly to pass time or out of casual curiosity

例句

Lien idly scrolled through her phone while waiting for the bus.

idly scroll — casual action with no real goal

Emre idly wondered what his old classmates were doing now.

idly wonder — mental activity without serious intent

同義詞
  • casually

    more neutral; 'idly' adds the sense of time-filling or lack of intent

  • aimlessly

    stronger sense of having no direction; 'idly' can be softer

  • absently

    suggests the mind is elsewhere; 'idly' suggests the mind is not fully engaged

反義詞

文法句型

idly + verb of casual attention

用法筆記

Often pairs with verbs of casual attention such as 'wonder', 'scroll', 'flip', 'gaze', or 'watch'.

常見錯誤

❌He was idly all afternoon.
✅He was idle all afternoon.
💡'idly' is an adverb and must modify a verb; 'idle' is the adjective form.

2. in a state of not doing anything active or productive; without taking action whe

2.副詞B2
釋義

in a state of not doing anything active or productive; without taking action when something is happening or expected

例句

After finishing her exams, Nellie lay idly on the sofa all day.

lay idly — physically inactive for a period

The taxi drivers stood idly near the station, hoping for a fare.

stood idly — staying in one place, not doing anything

同義詞
  • lazily

    more negative, suggesting unwillingness to work; 'idly' can be neutral

  • inactively

    more formal; 'idly' is more natural in everyday speech

反義詞

文法句型

idly + verb of inaction

stand idly by

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the fixed phrase 'stand idly by', which means to take no action while something (usually undesirable) happens.

常見錯誤

❌The car sat idly in the driveway.
✅The car sat idle in the driveway.
💡'idle' not 'idly' is the adjective describing the state of the car.