verb
dawdle
DAWDL
Dawdle (verb) means to move slowly or take much longer than necessary, often because of a lack of urgency. Example: “Stop dawdling and get your shoes on, we're late!”
verb
1
To move slowly or take much longer than necessary, often because of a lack of urgency.
"Stop dawdling and get your shoes on, we're late!"
"He dawdled on the walk home, stopping to look in every shop window."
How to use dawdle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take your time in a way that wastes time or annoys other people who are waiting.
Common pairings
stop dawdling
dawdle along
dawdle over breakfast
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like dawdle.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- dawdles
- Third person singular
- dawdles
- Past tense
- dawdled
- Archaic forms
- dawdlest, dawdledst, dawdleth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ on the walk home, stopping to look in every shop window.
Etymology
Likely related to old English dialect words like "daddle" or "doddle," meaning to walk slowly or aimlessly — probably imitative in origin.
Related words
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.
