adv
idly
YD-lih
adv
1
Without any real purpose or effort.
"She sat idly flipping through the magazine, not really reading it."
"He idly wondered what would have happened if he'd taken the other job."
How to Use Idly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn a lazy, unfocused, or aimless way.
Common pairings
sit idly by
idly wonder
Word Forms
more idly comparative, most idly superlative
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She sat _____ flipping through the magazine, not really reading it.
Etymology
From Old English idellice, built on idle + -ly.