1
as in to play
to engage in activity for amusement
he spent his college years dallying, seemingly determined to acquire as little knowledge as possible
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2
as in to linger
to move or act slowly
don't dally on the way to the interview
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3
as in to flirt
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun
she spent the summer dallying with a guy renting the neighboring beach house
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4
as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing
I kept dallying at my desk until I couldn't put off doing my work any longer
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dally
With the ball loose in midfield, Southampton’s Flynn Downes dallied on the halfway line, stuck in two minds over whether to push to win possession or retreat into his own half.
—
Elias Burke, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
As is so often the case for Hong, his latest is a gentle, hypnotically watchable film that breezes by as Iris does herself, dallying around Seoul in a loose summer dress and her striking bright-green cardigan.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024
This is no time for the dilly-dallying dog days of August.
—Tim Britton, The Athletic, 15 Aug. 2024
The Dodgers were dallying in Scott's trade market before he was sent to the San Diego Padres along with reliever Bryan Hoeing for four minor league players.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dally
Elias Burke, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
As is so often the case for Hong, his latest is a gentle, hypnotically watchable film that breezes by as Iris does herself, dallying around Seoul in a loose summer dress and her striking bright-green cardigan.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024
This is no time for the dilly-dallying dog days of August.
—Tim Britton, The Athletic, 15 Aug. 2024
The Dodgers were dallying in Scott's trade market before he was sent to the San Diego Padres along with reliever Bryan Hoeing for four minor league players.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dally
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dally
Verb
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The Indianapolis Colts are playing against the Baltimore Ravens in the 7 p.m. EDT slot followed by the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals at 7:30 p.m. EDT and the Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks at 10 p.m. EDT.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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For the 2006 film, Anika Noni Rose played Lorrell, Beyoncé played Deena, and Hudson played Effie.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Even as Andrew James McGann sits in jail accused of the ghastly double murder of parents on a hike at a state park in the Ozark Mountains, key questions linger about the motive.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
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Debt from a 2018 restructuring lingered and mall traffic, especially in secondary locations, continued to decline.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Even the new Superman movie flirts with the idea that our fractious species might be improved by an infusion of alien seed into the gene pool.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Aug. 2025
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During the selloff, the S&P 500 flirted with bear market territory, diving nearly 20% from its prior high.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
2 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Democratic state lawmakers are still attempting to delay efforts from Republicans who are trying to redraw Texas’ 38 congressional districts, which could help Republicans pick up as many as five seats in the House of Representatives.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
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But the judge walked back that suggestion in his order that denied the defense’s request to delay Kohberger’s trial.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But don’t dawdle too long: Mykonian nightlife is just minutes away.—
Chadner Navarro,
Vogue,
16 July 2025
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As if aware that engaging plot is not the story’s strongest suit, Nicholaw keeps his foot on the accelerator throughout, making sure nothing and no one dawdles as the production hurtles from one incident to the next.—
David Benedict,
Variety,
24 June 2025
Verb
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One person would hold the rod and drag ashore a thrashing, 200-pound sawfish.—
Jack Prator,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
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In doing so, the currents drag swimmers out into open waters.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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It is hoped that motorists will leave their vehicles at home, avoid idling their engines or using drive-thru lanes, and instead use public transport or car shares to lessen the impact on the environment.—
Chloe Mayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 July 2025
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The truck idled for three minutes, then four minutes, then five.—
Clare Sestanovich,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
Verb
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Adam crawls along the floor, left, about to put his finger in an electrical outlet, right, while his baby watches from afar.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
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This setup enabled the robots to crawl using sequential contractions and relaxation—much like a caterpillar.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dally. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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