What is the meaning of dawdling?

- Definitions|2
- Thesaurus|1.4k
- Abbreviations|0

noun

The deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working.
- synonyms: dalliance, trifling

verb

Take one's time; proceed slowly.
- synonyms: linger, dawdle
Waste time.
- usage: "Get busy-don't dally"
- synonyms: dally, dawdle
Hang (back) or fall (behind. in movement, progress, development, etc.).
- synonyms: lag, dawdle, fall back, fall behind

WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University

8

|15 years ago|1.1k views|share |citing

APA	WordNet. (2010). dawdling. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/dawdling/definitions/1269244
Chicago	WordNet. 2010. "dawdling" http://smartdefine.org/dawdling/definitions/1269244 (accessed September 22, 2026).
Harvard	WordNet 2010, dawdling, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/dawdling/definitions/1269244>.
MLA	WordNet. "dawdling" 23 October 2010. Web. 22 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/dawdling/definitions/1269244>

{ class="autoclick" }next definition (/)

Alternative definitions by

WordNet Webster's