Synonyms of mark time

mark time

phrase

as in delay

to move or act slowly

The soldiers marked time until they were given the signal to move forward.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mark time

All the same, Adelaide believed in the importance of marking time. — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026

The moon represents creation and destruction, rebirth, eternity, the feminine, time, marking time, mystery, the night, and secrets. — Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026