dawdle
3 synonyms and 3 antonyms for dawdle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To move slowly or take much longer than necessary, often because of a lack of urgency.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use dawdle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
stop dawdling
dawdle along
dawdle over breakfast
Etymology
Likely related to old English dialect words like "daddle" or "doddle," meaning to walk slowly or aimlessly — probably imitative in origin.
Full origin of dawdle →Frequently asked questions
What does “dawdle” mean?
The word “dawdle” means to move slowly or take much longer than necessary, often because of a lack of urgency. In plain terms, to take your time in a way that wastes time or annoys other people who are waiting.
How do you pronounce “dawdle”?
“Dawdle” is pronounced DAWDL (/ˈdɔdl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “dawdle” in a sentence?
Here is “dawdle” used in a sentence: “He dawdled on the walk home, stopping to look in every shop window.”
What part of speech is “dawdle”?
“Dawdle” is a verb.
Where does the word “dawdle” come from?
The word “dawdle” comes from Old English. Likely related to old English dialect words like "daddle" or "doddle," meaning to walk slowly or aimlessly — probably imitative in origin.
