currently idle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "currently idle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of inactivity or lack of engagement at the present time. Example: "The server is currently idle, waiting for new requests to process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

A federal District Court judge in New Orleans heard arguments on Monday from companies supplying offshore oil rigs who sued to lift a six-month moratorium President Obama imposed on the 33 rigs currently idle in the Gulf, as well as new deepwater drilling projects, pending results of the investigation into the accident.

The New York Times

Of Lawsuits and Investigations A Federal District Court judge in New Orleans heard arguments from companies supplying offshore oil rigs who sued to lift President Obama's six-month drilling moratorium on the 33 rigs currently idle in the gulf, as well as new deep-water drilling projects, pending results of the investigation into the spill.

The New York Times

Lundqvist, the Vezina Trophy-winning goalie currently idle because of the N.H.L. lockout, has not yet identified which organizations will receive the proceeds, Costello said.

The New York Times

In the Bronx, Steve Owens, the owner of Able Snow Patrol, oversees a currently idle fleet of snow plows and each morning curses the forecast.

The New York Times

Newark officials and the owners of the currently idle New Jersey Devils have signed a lease agreement that clears the way for the long-delayed construction of a $310 million, 18,000-seat arena for the National Hockey League team.

The New York Times

I've been able to download and run the app and it is currently idle, sitting quietly in the corner, unable to connect to the mothership.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Residents of Maywood, Boyle Heights and other communities around the Exide plant packed the air district board's public hearing in Long Beach and urged officials to adopt even more stringent standards to force the currently idled Exide plant to install better pollution controls or shut down permanently.

Los Angeles Times

Only vehicles currently being idle (either at a waiting location, or just becoming idle after serving a request) can be assigned to requests.

European Journal of Operational Research

At the end of last year, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the economy was still about 5.5 percent smaller than it would have been had it avoided the recession and kept growing along its long-term potential path, making full use of the workers and equipment currently sitting idle.

The New York Times

Imperium's 100-million gallon biodiesel facility in Grays Harbor, Wash., is currently sitting idle for lack of demand for its product.

Forbes

Europe continues to test the waters of shared vehicle ownership models, and the Amber One is a car designed to help eliminate the huge amount of time our own vehicles currently spend idle.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "currently idle" to clearly indicate a temporary state of inactivity, especially when contrasting it with potential or past activity. This is particularly effective in technical and formal contexts.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "currently idle" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "not in use" or "inactive" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "currently idle" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It specifies that the noun it modifies is in a state of temporary inactivity at the present time. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in describing equipment, systems, or even people.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "currently idle" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective phrase indicating a state of temporary inactivity. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently found in news and media, science and formal business contexts. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to formal registers, where clarity and precision are valued. For casual conversations, simpler alternatives might be more appropriate. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

presently inactive

Replaces "currently" with "presently" and "idle" with "inactive", slightly altering the tone.

now inactive

Simple substitution for "currently idle".

not in use at present

Directly states the lack of current utilization.

unoccupied for now

Indicates a temporary lack of occupancy or use.

temporarily out of service

Focuses on the service aspect and indicates a temporary cessation of activity.

at present unutilized

Focuses on the lack of utilization in the present moment.

momentarily inoperative

Highlights a brief period of non-functionality.

at a standstill

Emphasizes the lack of movement or progress.

for the time being disengaged

Suggests a temporary disconnection or lack of involvement.

lying dormant

Implies a state of potential activity that is currently suppressed.

FAQs

How can I use "currently idle" in a sentence?

You can use "currently idle" to describe something temporarily not in use, such as "The server is "currently idle", waiting for new requests".

What are some alternatives to "currently idle"?

Alternatives include "presently inactive", "temporarily out of service", or "not in use at present", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "currently idle"?

It's appropriate in formal or technical contexts where you need to clearly state that something is temporarily not in operation or use. For more casual situations, simpler language might be preferred.

Is "currently idle" redundant?

While "idle" often implies a current state, adding "currently" can emphasize the temporary nature of the inactivity and avoid ambiguity, making it useful in contexts where the state might change soon.