screw around

verb

screwed around; screwing around; screws around

intransitive verb

1

: to waste time with unproductive activity : dally

2

: to have sexual relations with someone outside of a marriage or steady relationship : be sexually promiscuous

Synonyms of screw around

• cheat
• step out
• play (around)
• cat (around)

Examples of screw around in a Sentence

he hired a private detective because he thought his wife was screwing around

Recent Examples on the Web

The informative thing was Lestat screwing around with me. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 June 2026

The way the Padres screw around this time of year is maddening. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2026

Mercedes is truly not screwing around with the new EQS. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 13 Apr. 2026

Simpson saw that all-too-rare phenomenon in Hollywood — somebody had no desire to screw around. — Jay Glennie, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for screw around

• aboveground
• battleground
• belowground
• paperbound
• turnaround
• ultrasound
• underground
• wraparound
• abound
• aground
• astound
• background

Kids Definition

screw around

verb

1

: to waste time with unproductive activity : dally

2

: to have sexual relations with someone outside of a marriage