dawdle (C1)

verb

Pronunciation: /ˈdɔːdl/

Definition

To waste time by moving or acting slowly, often when you should be hurrying.

Examples

• Stop dawdling and get your shoes on.

• He dawdled on his way home from school, stopping to look at everything.

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

How to Use dawdle

dawdle on (prepositional phrase)

To spend time idly while moving along a path or route. — "Don't dawdle on your way to school."

dawdle about (prepositional phrase)

To move around slowly and waste time. — "He spent the afternoon dawdling about the house."

dawdle away (prepositional phrase)

To waste time doing something. — "She dawdled away the morning reading magazines."

Synonyms of dawdle

Words with a similar meaning to dawdle:

• linger
• loiter
• procrastinate
• shilly-shally

Antonyms of dawdle

Words with the opposite meaning to dawdle:

• hurry
• rush
• scramble

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