idles
Passes time uselessly
Idles is the third-person singular of idle.
An engine idles when it runs without engaging the drivetrain: The car idles rough in cold weather.
A person idles when they pass time doing nothing productive: She idles away the afternoon.
A factory idles when production stops temporarily: The plant idles during retooling.
Spends time idly
- lazesPasses time idly
- slacksInformal leg garments
- dawdlesMoves unnecessarily slowly
- loungesReclines idly or waiting areas
lollygags · shirks · procrastinates · goldbricking · malingers · bums · skives · dallies
Occupies a seat
- languishesWeakens through neglect
- stagnatesCeases movement or progress
- mothballedPreserved but inactive
- sidelinedRemoved from participation
benched · parked · shelved · untouched · fallow · offline · unused · unoccupied
loafs
Spends time idly
lounges · lollygags · shirks · procrastinates · goldbricking · malingers · bums · skives · dallies · putters
sits
Occupies a seat
- languishesWeakens through neglect
- stagnatesCeases movement or progress
- mothballedPreserved but inactive
sidelined · benched · parked · shelved · untouched · fallow · offline · unused · unoccupied · vacant
waits
Stays for something
delays · stalls · hesitates · pauses · rests · stops · halts · suspends · intermission · hiatus
revs
Engine rotation cycles
neutral · park · standby · throttle · motor · running · stalls · sputters · chugs · vibrates
- idle chatterTrivial, aimless conversation
- idle threatsInsincere warnings lacking intent
- idle talkAimless conversation
- idle handsUnoccupied extremities seeking mischief
- idle time
- idle away