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dawdle

play
verb daw·dle \ˈdȯ-dəl\

Definition of dawdle

dawdled

;

dawdling

play \ˈdȯ-dliŋ, -dəl-iŋ\
  1. intransitive verb

  2. 1 :  to spend time idly … dawdled about in the vestibule … — Jane Austen

  3. 2 :  to move lackadaisically “I don't want you dawdling while you making deliveries for Mrs. Ford.” — Connie Porter

  4. transitive verb

  5. :  to spend fruitlessly or lackadaisically dawdled the day away

dawdler

play \ˈdȯ-dlər, -dəl-ər\ noun

See dawdle defined for English-language learners

See dawdle defined for kids

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Examples of dawdle in a Sentence

  1. Hurry up! There's no time to dawdle.

  2. Come home immediately after school, and don't dawdle.

Recent Examples of dawdle from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dawdle'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of dawdle

origin unknown

dawdle Synonyms

Synonyms
crawl, creep, dally, delay, diddle, dillydally, drag, lag, linger, loiter, 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

Synonym Discussion of dawdle

delay, procrastinate, lag, loiter, dawdle, dally mean to move or act slowly so as to fall behind. delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure). we cannot delay any longer procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy. procrastinates about making decisions lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others. lagging behind in technology loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time. loitered at several store windows children dawdling on their way home from school dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary. stop dallying and get to work

DAWDLE Defined for English Language Learners

dawdle

play
verb

Definition of dawdle for English Language Learners

  • : to move or act too slowly

DAWDLE Defined for Kids

dawdle

play
verb daw·dle \ˈdȯ-dəl\

Definition of dawdle for Students

dawdled

;

dawdling

  1. 1 :  to spend time wastefully :  dally He couldn't afford to dawdle. He was way behind the others … — Louis Sachar, Holes

  2. 2 :  to move slowly and without purpose Don't dawdle in the hall.

Learn More about dawdle

  1. See words that rhyme with dawdle Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dawdle Spanish Central: Translation of dawdle Nglish: Translation of dawdle for Spanish speakers

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Examples: dawdle in a Sentence
Tip: Synonym Guide