Synonyms of marking time

marking time

phrase

present participle of mark time

as in delaying

to move or act slowly

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• delaying
• lingering
• dragging
• crawling
• hanging fire
• poking
• falling behind
• dropping behind
• taking one's time
• strolling
• dragging one's feet
• creeping
• fiddling (around)
• loitering
• playing
• puttering (around)
• pottering (around)
• fooling around
• lagging
• hanging (around or out)
• monkeying (around)
• moping
• messing around
• shuffling
• dawdling
• stalling
• slowing (down or up)
• dillydallying
• tarrying
• diddling
• lollygagging
• staggering
• lounging
• dallying
• idling
• shilly-shallying
• trifling
• loafing
• sauntering
• ambling
• inching
• decelerating
• lolling
• easing
• temporizing
• procrastinating
• lumbering
• plodding
• filibustering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tearing
• rushing
• flying
• racing
• speeding
• running
• hurrying
• ripping
• hastening
• dashing
• whirling
• scurrying
• bolting
• hotfooting (it)
• coursing
• barreling
• whizzing
• whisking
• scooting
• zipping
• scudding
• rocketing
• speeding (up)
• scrambling
• bowling
• darting
• careering
• hurtling
• hustling
• humping
• running
• stampeding
• jogging
• galloping
• catching up
• breezing
• trotting
• accelerating
• sprinting
• quickening
• overtaking
• outstripping
• outpacing
• outrunning
• fast-forwarding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of marking 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