dawdled

VERB

delay; waste time

Synonyms

STRONGEST

laze loiter mosey procrastinate saunter

STRONG

amble dally dilly-dally drag idle lag loaf loll lounge poke stay stroll tarry toddle trifle wait

WEAK

bum around diddle-daddle fool around fritter away get no place fast goof off hang around hang out lazy put off scrounge around shlep along sit around sit on one's butt warm a chair

Antonyms

STRONG

do go run rush

WEAK

forward hasten hurry push speed

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While Kelly dawdled for the decisive goal, Bain made a superb save late on to deny Manchester United's Amad Diallo.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Later, at Brasserie de Monaco, the principality’s craft beer brewery, I dawdled over a pint of Blonde de Monaco and fell into conversation with Nils, a Danish skipper.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026

Not yet knowing what I was in for, though, I dawdled, thinking the journey too far and impractical, until I finally relented about 20 hours before totality over Idaho.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2024

Students dawdled in their first period classes with cameras off, waiting for teachers who had not been able to log in.

From New York Times • Feb. 13, 2024

I dawdled after Mami down the three steps into the yard.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago