completely idle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely idle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of total inactivity or lack of engagement in a particular context. Example: "During the summer break, I found myself completely idle, with no plans or activities to fill my time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Now, only 9percentt of prisoners are in full-time job training or education programs, while 24percentt are completely idle, said James Austin, director of the Institute on Crime, Justice and Corrections at George Washington University.

The New York Times

When such a formula is quoted, the expression "A" is still meaningful and expresses the content of a judgement, but the signs "+" and "−" become completely idle.

SEP

The server consumes over 50%% of its actual peak power and up to 70%% in some cases, even when it is completely idle [22].

Journal of Cloud Computing

Not only would Aristotle's definition be uninformative and circular otherwise, amounting to the tautologous claim that change is the actualisation of the capacity for change, the further qualification in the definition, that change is the actuality of the potential in so far as it is potential, would be completely idle.

SEP

Though the canal's opening was greeted with great enthusiasm and anticipation, the canal was scarcely used and was completely idle by 1919.

Wikipedia

A human, on the other hand, can be smiling, laughing, crying, or completely idle, but his or her mind can be off in the distant past or far into the future.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

But energy economists here said a combination of negligence and poor planning pushed Guri to its limit in this decade, while other electricity projects, including several built in recent years to be fueled by natural gas, remain completely or partly idle.

The New York Times

The first act is almost completely consumed by idle gentry and soldiers complaining about how little they have to do: Baron Tusenbach theorises on "the great healthy storm" that might blow them into action, while Irina speculates that getting a job might be the answer - until she finds one.

The Guardian

The proposed MAC completely removes the idle listening, thereby saving power.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Most women (and men) work because they have to, Ms. Kaylin said, so "the completely out-of-touch idle rich lady bossing around an immigrant is becoming cliché," Ms. Kaylin said.

The New York Times - Books

In cases when the education system becomes either idle or completely inactive in the absence of functioning government, international or non-governmental organizations carry out this function to a great extent.

Journal of International Humanitarian Action

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing equipment or systems, use "completely idle" to indicate that they are not consuming resources or performing any function at all. For example: 'The server was left "completely idle" overnight to conserve energy.'

Common error

Avoid using "completely idle" when you mean something is simply 'unoccupied' or 'available'. "Completely idle" implies a total lack of activity, not just a lack of being used at the moment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely idle" functions as a descriptive modifier. "Completely" intensifies the adjective "idle", indicating a state of total inactivity. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "completely idle" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe a state of total inactivity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for general usage. While it appears across various contexts, including News & Media and Scientific publications, indicating versatility, it is more suitable when describing something is not just unused but entirely non-operational. When considering alternatives, focus on the nuance you want to convey, whether it's a lack of use, activity, or functionality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

totally inactive

Replaces "completely" with "totally" emphasizing the state of being not active.

entirely inactive

Substitutes "completely" with "entirely" suggesting full inactivity.

utterly inactive

Replaces "completely" with "utterly" to intensify the degree of inactivity.

fully inactive

Changes "completely" to "fully", indicating a state of total inactivity.

wholly inactive

Uses "wholly" instead of "completely", conveying a sense of entire inactivity.

absolutely inactive

Employs "absolutely" to emphasize the lack of activity.

totally unoccupied

Shifts focus to lack of occupation or engagement, rather than just activity.

entirely unused

Highlights that something is not being used at all.

completely non-operational

Focuses on the fact that it is not functioning or working.

lying dormant

Emphasizes a state of temporary inactivity or suspension.

FAQs

What does "completely idle" mean?

The phrase "completely idle" describes a state of total inactivity or when something is not in use at all. It implies a full cessation of activity.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "completely idle"?

Use "completely idle" when you want to emphasize that something is not just unused, but also not performing any background tasks or consuming resources. For example, a machine that's turned off is "completely idle".

What are some alternatives to "completely idle"?

You can use alternatives like "totally inactive", "entirely unused", or "lying dormant" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "completely idle"?

Yes, "completely idle" is grammatically correct. "Completely" is an adverb modifying the adjective "idle", indicating the extent of inactivity.