loitering 1 of 2

Definition of loiteringnext

loitering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of loiter

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of loitering
Verb
Russia soon augmented its capabilities by acquiring Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 loitering munitions from Iran. Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026 Daisy doesn’t have to spend too much time loitering in downtown Toronto before Gilead makes its move. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026 These lower-thrust variants are designed for expendable munitions, loitering systems, and counter-UAS roles. Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026 Complaints included allegations of reckless driving, a cat being run over and vehicles loitering in neighborhoods. Brandon Lingle, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2026 People loudly loitering in front of houses. Joy Sewing, Houston Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026 Violent and property crime dropped across the board, but crimes against society, which include drugs, gambling and loitering offenses, rose, in some cases substantially. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026 PepsiCo surely pays for the Gatorade coolers loitering behind the benches. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 8 Mar. 2026 Eight adults were charged with offenses, including inciting to riot and loitering and prowling. Christopher Harris, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loitering
Adjective
  • Thomas missed 57 games last season, mostly because of the same lingering left hamstring issue.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
  • On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • San Diego is delaying most impacts of a new state law that requires cities to allow high-rise housing near trolley stations and major bus stops — but questions persist about how many bus stops the new law will affect.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
  • Yamaha’s plant shut down due to Covid-19, delaying TCW’s ability to retrieve and return the equipment in the allotted time, but Evergreen still charged the fees.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Police said the driver was eventually able to escape by crawling out a window.
    Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 13 May 2026
  • Staff started out by wearing bear masks and animal furs, then crawling into the enclosure to spoon-feed the cubs formula.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • The post quickly drew a wave of reactions online, with some users poking fun at both the situation and Jones’ outfit.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
  • Here, Ibrahima Konate has the simple task of poking the ball through United’s midfield, Wirtz swaps passes with Szoboszlai, and then has a decent attempt at goal.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • Travelers end up dragging coats through museums or try to shove them into already full suitcases before a train transfer.
    Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
  • That’s led to a stark split between Wall Street analysts and energy experts, who have been warning that oil supplies could head off a cliff in the coming months or even weeks, dragging the global economy down in the process.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • In a film running a lethargic 2 hours 20 minutes, the Farhadis have kept only the set-up and composer Zbigniew Preisner’s delicate but hauntingly emotional score.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
  • Frank never had a chance of uniting the crowd following lethargic home defeats to Chelsea, Fulham and Arsenal.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • Just minutes from downtown, Andreas Canyon feels like strolling through an ancient desert oasis.
    Christina Pérez, Vogue, 8 May 2026
  • The high season was over so the scene was fairly quiet, with clusters of tourists who appeared to be from Eastern Europe, and young Albanian couples strolling the beach.
    Ada Calhoun, Travel + Leisure, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • Both inactive tuberculosis and active TB can be treated with a mix of several different medicines.
    Allison Gibson, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
  • But about six hours before tip-off at Madison Square Garden, the Sixers said the former NBA MVP would be inactive with that ankle issue and right hip soreness.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Loitering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loitering. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on loitering

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster