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

When you’re moving tons of food at the edge of its usefulness — an average of 250,000 pounds or 125 tons every day — no one can afford to dawdle.

From Los Angeles 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

But there was no time to dawdle.

From Literature

If a few passengers dawdle while stowing their bag and finding their seat, it can make the difference between a flight being on time or late in the government’s official statistics.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• laze
• loiter
• mosey
• procrastinate
• saunter