loiter

[ loi-ter ]

verb (used without object)

1. to linger aimlessly or as if aimless in or about a place:

   to loiter around the bus terminal.

   Synonyms: loaf

2. to move in a slow, idle manner, making purposeless stops in the course of a trip, journey, errand, etc.:

   to loiter on the way to work.

   Synonyms: tarry, delay, loaf

3. to waste time or dawdle over work:

   He loiters over his homework until one in the morning.

   Synonyms: tarry, delay, loaf

verb (used with object)

1. to pass (time) in an idle or aimless manner (usually followed by away ):

   to loiter away the afternoon in daydreaming.

   Synonyms: loaf

loiter

/ ˈlɔɪtə /

verb

1. intr to stand or act aimlessly or idly

Derived Forms

• ˈloitering, nounadjective
• ˈloiterer, noun

Other Words From

• loi·ter·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of loiter¹

First recorded before 1300–50; Middle English loteren, loytren, perhaps from Middle Dutch loteren “to stagger, totter”; compare Dutch leuteren “to dawdle”

Word History and Origins

Origin of loiter¹

C14: perhaps from Middle Dutch löteren to wobble: perhaps related to Old English lūtian to lurk

Synonym Study

Loiter, dally, dawdle, idle imply moving or acting slowly, stopping for unimportant reasons, and in general wasting time. To loiter is to linger aimlessly: to loiter outside a building. To dally is to loiter indecisively or to delay as if free from care or responsibility: to dally on the way home. To dawdle is to saunter, stopping often, and taking a great deal of time, or to fritter away time working in a halfhearted way: to dawdle over a task. To idle is to move slowly and aimlessly, or to spend a great deal of time doing nothing: to idle away the hours.

Example Sentences

He says he’s improved his locks, put in cameras and even offered soft drinks to kids loitering outside in a bid to win them over.

From BBC

She said she told management a fence was needed to keep people from loitering on the property.

From Los Angeles Times

"There was less crime back when I was younger because every road you went down, there was a milkman loitering," he explained.

From BBC

Banned activities include “camping, overnight demonstrations, or overnight loitering” and “unauthorized temporary or permanent structures, walls, barriers, barricades, furniture, or other objects.”

From Los Angeles Times

The pilot program at the North Hollywood station is the the agency’s latest effort to stem crime and prevent loitering.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amble
• dawdle
• linger
• loll
• lounge
• ramble
• saunter
• traipse