dawdle

[ˈdɔːdl]

dawdle Definition

to waste time, especially by moving slowly or doing nothing important.

Using dawdle: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "dawdle" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  Stop dawdling and get to work!

• Example

  We can't afford to dawdle if we want to finish on time.

• Example

  I dawdled away the afternoon in the park.

• Example

  Don't dawdle over your breakfast or you'll be late for school.

dawdle Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for dawdle

• loiter
• lollygag
• procrastinate
• delay
• linger

Antonyms for dawdle

• hurry
• rush
• speed up

Phrases with dawdle

• dawdle along

  to walk slowly and leisurely

  Example

  They dawdled along the beach, enjoying the sunshine and the sound of the waves.

• dawdle away

  to waste time by doing nothing important

  Example

  I dawdled away the morning reading a book instead of doing my work.

• dawdle over

  to take too much time to do something

  Example

  Don't dawdle over your homework or you'll be up all night trying to finish it.

Origins of dawdle

origin unknown

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Summary: dawdle in Brief

The verb 'dawdle' [ˈdɔːdl] means to waste time, especially by moving slowly or doing nothing important. It is often used to urge someone to stop delaying and start working, as in 'Stop dawdling and get to work!' The word has several synonyms, including 'loiter,' 'procrastinate,' and 'linger,' and can be used in phrases like 'dawdle along' and 'dawdle over.'