Active and Idle

Active

Active adjective - Being in effective operation.
Usage example: the abandoned factory had not been active for years

Idle is an antonym for active in topics: busy, very involved in activity, having movement.

Idle

Idle adjective - Not being in a state of use, activity, or employment.
Usage example: the car was idle for two weeks while they went on vacation

Active is an antonym for idle in topics: lazy, unoccupied, worthless.

Nearby Words: idled, idleness, idler, idling, idly

Both words in one sentence

  • Video Game / LEGO Dimensions Some playable characters go into their idle animation gags when not active, if the active character isn't doing much, either.
  • Idle Games usually have a concept of buying upgrades that enhance your ability to gain points (whether active, idle, or both), yielding exponential gains that Pinball Scoring can't begin to describe.
    Source: Idle Game
  • Jilva at first is an idle royalty, but she becomes a member of active royalty through the game.
Cite this Source
Idle and Active. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/active/idle
Active & Idle. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/active/idle>.
Idle or Active. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/active/idle.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "active" and "idle" have occurred on timeline