loiter

loi·ter

intransitive verb \ˈlȯi-tər\

Definition of LOITER

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

See Synonym Discussion at delay

Rhymes with LOITER

goiter