idled

Idled is the past tense of idle and describes the state of not being active or of running at low, steady speed without performing useful work. It can refer to a person spending time without productive activity, or to machines, engines, or systems that are running but not performing required tasks. In everyday language, something that is idled is temporarily inactive yet kept ready for later use.

Etymology-wise, the term comes from idle, which has Old English origins associated with empty or useless. The concept of inactivity and lack of use has long been part of the word’s meaning, and idled as a past action or state is a natural extension of that sense.

Common usage spans several domains. In vehicles, an engine idles when it runs at a low, stable speed while the vehicle is stationary. In manufacturing or workplaces, workers or equipment may be idled during periods of low demand or due to maintenance, resulting in idle capacity or idle labor. In economics and production planning, idle resources highlight underutilization of facilities, labor, or capital that could be employed to increase output if demand or efficiency improved.

Environmental and policy considerations often address idling, especially regarding motor vehicle emissions. Reducing unnecessary idling is a goal in many regions to save fuel and cut pollution. Related terms include idleness and idle time, as well as idle in computing or machinery contexts where a process or device is kept ready but not actively executing tasks. See also: idle, idleness, idle time.