dawdle

[ dawd-l ]

verb (used without object)

, daw·dled, daw·dling.

1. to waste time; idle; trifle; loiter:

   Stop dawdling and help me with these packages!

2. to move slowly, languidly, or dilatorily; saunter.

verb (used with object)

, daw·dled, daw·dling.

1. to waste (time) by or as if by trifling (usually followed by away ):

   He dawdled away the whole morning.

   Synonyms: trifle, idle, putter, fritter

dawdle

/ ˈdɔːdəl /

verb

1. intr to be slow or lag behind
2. whentr, often foll by away to waste (time); trifle

Derived Forms

• ˈdawdlingly, adverb
• ˈdawdler, noun

Other Words From

• dawdler noun
• dawdling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of dawdle¹

First recorded in 1650–60; variant of daddle “to toddle”

Word History and Origins

Origin of dawdle¹

C17: of uncertain origin

Synonym Study

See loiter.

Example Sentences

She has set a six-minute daily time limit as a reminder not to dawdle on Instagram.

From Seattle Times

While these cities dawdle, the region’s residents suffer the effects of the housing shortage: high rents, overcrowding, eviction and homelessness.

From Los Angeles Times

The confidence of the Russian military reflected the Kremlin’s knowledge that Ukraine’s ammunition supplies were dwindling as the U.S. dawdled over approving more military aid.

From Seattle Times

Not yet knowing what I was in for, though, I dawdled, thinking the journey too far and impractical, until I finally relented about 20 hours before totality over Idaho.

From Los Angeles Times

Students dawdled in their first period classes with cameras off, waiting for teachers who had not been able to log in.

From New York Times

Related Words

• laze
• loiter
• mosey
• procrastinate
• saunter