dally

American  

[dal-ee] / ˈdæl i /

verb (used without object)

dallied, dallying

1. to waste time; loiter; delay.

2. to act playfully, especially in an amorous or flirtatious way.

   Synonyms:

   trifle, tease, flirt

3. to play mockingly; trifle.

   to dally with danger.

   Synonyms:

   toy

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verb (used with object)

dallied, dallying

1. to waste (time) (usually followed byaway ).

dally British  

/ ˈdælɪ /

verb

1. to waste time idly; dawdle

2. (usually foll by with) to deal frivolously or lightly with; trifle; toy

   to dally with someone's affections

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Related Words

See loiter.

Other Word Forms

• dallier noun
• dallyingly adverb
• undallying adjective

Etymology

Origin of dally

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English dalien from Anglo-French dalier “to chat,” of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

He did not dally, perhaps mindful of what had happened the night before.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

If you dally as the clock approaches 2 p.m. on Sunday, you will see that Jerson Osorio’s team can unbuild a city as fast as they can build one.

From Slate • Dec. 22, 2024

Don’t dally until it becomes an established problem to deal with.

From Seattle Times • May 17, 2023

To Williams, the comment was an acknowledgment of how quickly the 49ers’ pass rush was getting pressure, and Wentz didn’t want Williams to dally while reading the defense.

From Washington Post • Dec. 30, 2022

The girl didn’t steal food, sneak ale, or dally with the guests.

From "The Midwife's Apprentice" by Karen Cushman