loiter

loi·ter

verb \ˈlȯi-tər\

Definition of LOITER

intransitive verb

1

: to delay an activity with idle stops and pauses : dawdle

2

a : to remain in an area for no obvious reason b : to lag behind

— loiter noun

— loi·ter·er \-tər-ər\ noun

Examples of LOITER

1. Loitering is prohibited outside the theaters.
2. <don't loiter in this neighborhood after dark>

Origin of LOITER

Middle English

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to LOITER

Synonyms: crawl, creep, dally, dawdle, diddle, dillydally, drag, lag, linger, delay, lollygag (also lallygag), mope, poke, shilly-shally, tarry

Antonyms: barrel, bolt, career, course, dash, fly, hasten, hotfoot (it), hurry, race, rip, rocket, run, rush, scoot, scud, scurry, speed, tear, whirl, whisk, whiz (or whizz), zip

Related Words: fiddle (around), fool around, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle; hang (around or out), idle, loaf, loll, lounge; amble, ease, inch, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stagger, stroll; decelerate, slow (down or up); filibuster, procrastinate, stall, temporize

Near Antonyms: bowl, breeze, dart, hump, hurtle, hustle, scramble, stampede; gallop, jog, run, sprint, trot; accelerate, quicken, speed (up); catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake

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See Synonym Discussion at delay

Rhymes with LOITER

goiter