loiter

verb

loi·​ter ˈlȯi-tər 

loitered; loitering; loiters

intransitive verb

1

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

asked him not to loiter on the way home

2

a

: to remain in an area for no obvious reason

teenagers loitering in the parking lot

b

: to lag behind

… a crowd of people, who loitered to hear the bloodcurdling threats the prisoner shouted …

—Willa Cather

loiter noun

loiterer

ˈlȯi-tər-ər 

noun

Synonyms of loiter

• linger
• delay
• crawl
• drag
• poke

Choose the Right Synonym for loiter

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

Examples of loiter in a Sentence

Loitering is prohibited outside the theaters.

don't loiter in this neighborhood after dark

Recent Examples on the Web

Companies developing collaborative combat aircraft, loitering munitions, and other unmanned platforms are increasingly investing in production infrastructure alongside research and development. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026

Police officers loiter in the shade, leaning against railings at casual angles that suggest the world’s problems are being solved. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026

On a recent commute to the Allure office, commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann picked up a new base routine from Laura Mercier and rediscovered the joys of loitering in a Sephora. — Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 1 July 2026

The aircraft loitered south of the Cayman islands while a spell of bad weather passed by. — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for loiter

• goiter
• goitre
• exploiter
• reconnoiter
• reconnoitre

Kids Definition

loiter

verb

loi·​ter ˈlȯit-ər 

1

: to interrupt or delay an errand or a journey with pointless stops

2

a

: to remain in an area for no good reason

b

: to lag behind

loiterer noun

Legal Definition

loiter

intransitive verb

loi·​ter ˈlȯi-tər 

: to remain in or hang around an area for no obvious purpose

specifically : to linger for the purpose of committing a crime

a statute forbidding any person from loitering on school grounds