Synonyms of tarry

tarry 1 of 3

noun

as in visit

a temporary residing as another's guest

a fable about the tarry of two Americans in a Scottish village that every century magically comes into existence for a day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• visit
• stay
• sojourn
• field trip
• stopover
• layover
• stop
• sleepover
• homestay

tarry

2 of 3

verb

ˈter-ē 

1

as in to wait

to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time

upon seeing the sun beginning to sink in the sky, we realized we had tarried too long on the summit of the mountain

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wait
• remain
• stay
• dwell
• hang around
• stick around
• linger
• abide
• await
• loiter
• dawdle
• hold on
• hang on
• overstay
• outstay
• dally

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• leave
• depart
• go
• move
• quit
• exit
• cut out
• walk out
• get off
• pull out
• pack (up or off)
• take off
• bail
• peel off
• bail out
• go off
• pike (out or off)
• clear out
• escape
• flee
• shove (off)
• push on
• push off
• skip
• evacuate
• fly
• get out
• run away
• clear off
• vamoose
• abandon
• forsake
• buzz (off)
• bug out
• book
• vacate
• desert
• abscond
• decamp
• scram
• scat

2

as in to linger

to move or act slowly

the dean tarried in making his decision, still not sure if he should suspend the student or not

Synonyms & Similar Words

• linger
• delay
• crawl
• poke
• drag
• loiter
• dawdle
• stroll
• creep
• play
• mark time
• mope
• lollygag
• lag
• diddle
• fall behind
• hang fire
• stall
• drop behind
• shuffle
• shilly-shally
• lallygag
• dally
• lounge
• dillydally
• idle
• stagger
• drag one's heels
• trifle
• saunter
• take one's time
• amble
• temporize
• drag one's feet
• loaf
• decelerate
• fool around
• hang (around or out)
• putter (around)
• procrastinate
• fiddle (around)
• slow (down or up)
• potter (around)
• loll
• mess around
• inch
• lumber
• plod
• monkey (around)
• ease
• filibuster

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hurry
• hasten
• rush
• course
• race
• tear
• fly
• run
• scurry
• whisk
• career
• speed
• scoot
• rocket
• rip
• dash
• bolt
• barrel
• whirl
• breeze
• zip
• scramble
• dart
• hurtle
• hustle
• gallop
• run
• hump
• accelerate
• stampede
• trot
• scud
• whiz
• jog
• whizz
• speed (up)
• sprint
• quicken
• overtake
• hotfoot (it)
• catch up
• bowl
• outrun
• outstrip
• outpace
• fast-forward

3

as in to stay

to reside as a temporary guest

he tarried with us all summer, sleeping on the screened-in porch most nights

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stay
• visit
• sojourn
• stop (by)
• haunt
• run in
• occupy
• come over
• step in
• drop by
• crash
• drop in
• inhabit
• frequent
• come by
• hang (around or out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• live
• reside
• dwell
• abide

tarry

3 of 3

adjective

as in viscous

Related Words

• viscous
• gelatinous
• syrupy
• gooey
• pitchy
• ropy
• gummy
• adhesive
• ropey
• glutinous
• adherent
• viscid
• sticky
• gluey
• clingy
• tenacious
• tacky

Dissimilar Words

• nonviscous
• nonadhesive

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tarry

Noun

Often, Petite Sirah produces a wine that is too tarry, too dense, too chewy. —Esther Mobley, SFChronicle.com, 1 Sep. 2020

Ingestion of sago palm leaves, seeds or other plant parts causes liver failure, usually signaled by drooling, vomiting, diarrhea or a tarry black stool, depression, appetite loss, abdominal pain, lethargy and jaundice. —Kim Campbell Thornton, sacbee, 14 Mar. 2018

Adjective

America grew up with these boys and tarried with them through light and dark times. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 12 June 2025

Read More: 10 New Year's Traditions From Across the Globe There was still much reason to pray after Jan. 1, 1863, and so tarrying in prayer on New Year’s Eve became an annual tradition. —Nyya Toussaint / Made By History, TIME, 31 Dec. 2024