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
- delay
- loiter
- lollygag
- procrastinate
- 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
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.'
