What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
loitering
Example
The police officer asked the group of teenagers to stop loitering outside the store. [loitering: verb]
Example
He was caught loitering around the park, looking suspicious. [loitering: gerund or present participle]
loafing
Example
He spent the whole day loafing around the house, watching TV. [loafing: verb]
Example
She was accused of loafing on the job and not being productive. [loafing: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Loafing is more commonly used than loitering in everyday language. Loafing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while loitering is less common and is typically used in legal or law enforcement contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between loitering and loafing?
Both loitering and loafing are informal words, but loitering is typically associated with a more serious and formal tone due to its association with criminal activity.
