delay, procrastinate, lag, loiter, dawdle, dally mean to move or act slowly so as to fall behind. delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure).

DAWDLE definition: to waste time; idle; trifle; loiter. See examples of dawdle used in a sentence.

DAWDLE definition: 1. to do something or go somewhere very slowly, taking more time than is necessary: 2. to do…. Learn more.

dawdle (ˈdɔːdəl) vb 1. (intr) to be slow or lag behind 2. (when: tr, often foll by away) to waste (time); trifle

Definition of dawdle verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. to take a long time to do something or go somewhere. Stop dawdling! We're going to be late! + adv./prep. They dawdled …

Jan 20, 2026 · Noun dawdle (plural dawdles) An act of spending time idly and unfruitfully; a dawdling. An act of moving or walking lackadaisically, a dawdling; a leisurely or slow walk or other journey.

Dawdle implies not only taking extra time but actually wasting it. A leisurely walk in the woods is one thing, but if you have to get to the theater on time, don't dawdle along the way: you'll miss the curtain!

To dawdle means to waste time by being slow or lingering, often in an aimless or lackadaisical manner. It involves procrastination or taking more time than is necessary to complete a task.

If you dawdle, you spend more time than is necessary going somewhere. Eleanor will be back any moment, if she doesn't dawdle. [VERB] They dawdled arm in arm past the shopfronts. [VERB]

Dawdle definition: To take more time than necessary.