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Meaning of dawdle
to waste time, especially by being slow or reluctant to act
Etymology of dawdle
The word "dawdle" has its origins in the 16th century, likely derived from the Middle English word "daw," which means "to walk slowly or idly," possibly related to the Old English word "dægan," meaning "to become day" or "to delay"
Historically, the term has been used to describe someone who is moving or acting slowly, often in a way that is perceived as lazy or inefficient
Synonyms
linger
loiter
procrastinate
delay
tarry
wait
hesitate
pause
stall
slow
drag
slacken
dilly-dally
idle
laze
lounge
saunter
amble
meander
potter
putter
fiddle
trifle
waste
kill time
take one's time
move slowly
creep
crawl
plod
trudge
slog
move at a snail's pace
drag one's feet
hang back
fall behind
lose time
miss an opportunity
Definitions
- To take too much time to do something, often because you are not very interested in it or are not making an effort
- * To walk or move slowly, often in a relaxed or idle way
Usage Examples
- She dawdled over her breakfast, not wanting to start her day
- * He dawdled along the road, taking in the sights and sounds of the city
- * Stop dawdling and get to work, we have a deadline to meet