Dawdle: meaning, definitions and examples

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dawdle

[ˈdɔːdl ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Verb}

slowly waste time

To dawdle means to move slowly and idly, taking more time than necessary to do something. It often involves procrastinating or delaying tasks. Dawdling is often seen as a negative behavior, as it can lead to inefficiency and wasted time.

Synonyms

delay, linger, loiter, procrastinate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
dawdle	Best used when someone is wasting time by being slow or idle, often in a casual or aimless manner. Don't dawdle on your way to school, or you'll be late She tends to dawdle when getting ready in the morning
loiter	Implies remaining in a place without an apparent purpose, often used in a negative or suspicious sense. Teenagers were loitering around the entrance of the mall Security asked them not to loiter near the store
procrastinate	Used when someone is intentionally delaying or putting off something, especially tasks that are important or need to be done, often due to laziness or avoidance. Stop procrastinating and start working on your assignment He tends to procrastinate when it comes to difficult tasks
delay	Used when there is a purposeful or unavoidable postponement of something, typically involving a schedule or timeline. The flight was delayed due to bad weather We need to delay the project until we receive more information
linger	Appropriate when someone stays in a place longer than necessary, often because they are reluctant to leave. It can have both positive or negative connotations. She lingered at the door, not wanting to say goodbye The smell of coffee lingered in the air long after the café closed

Examples of usage

He dawdled over his homework instead of finishing it quickly.
She always dawdles when getting ready in the morning, making us late for work.
Don't dawdle, we need to leave in 5 minutes!
I dawdled away the afternoon, not accomplishing anything productive.
The children dawdled on their way home from school, enjoying the sunny weather.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the early 19th century, likely based on the dialect term 'daddle,' which means to move lazily.
Related words include 'dawdling,' which emphasizes the act of wasting time or moving slowly.

Psychology

Procrastination is often a form of dawdling, where individuals delay tasks, sometimes leading to increased stress.
People may dawdle due to a lack of interest or motivation, showing how emotions can influence time management.

Education

In a classroom setting, children who dawdle may struggle with focus and time management, affecting their learning outcomes.
Teachers often encourage timely behavior to help students develop good habits and stay engaged.

Pop Culture

Dawdling is frequently depicted in cartoons and movies as a comical trait of characters who fail to take tasks seriously.
Catchphrases like 'Don't dawdle!' are common in pop culture, emphasizing the importance of urgency in daily tasks.

Literature

Characters in literary works often dawdle to create tension or reflect on life before making important decisions.
Classic tales, such as 'Alice in Wonderland', explore themes of time and delays as central elements of their narratives.

Translations

Translations of the word "dawdle" in other languages:

🇵🇹 vadiar

🇮🇳 टालमटोल करना

🇩🇪 trödeln

🇮🇩 bermalas-malasan

🇺🇦 байдикувати

🇵🇱 ociągać się

🇯🇵 ぐずぐずする

🇫🇷 traîner

🇪🇸 holgazanear

🇹🇷 oyalanmak

🇰🇷 빈둥거리다

🇸🇦 تسكع

🇨🇿 loudat se

🇸🇰 flákať sa

🇨🇳 磨蹭

🇸🇮 lenariti

🇮🇸 slóra

🇰🇿 босқа сандалу

🇬🇪 ზანტი

🇦🇿 tənbəllik etmək

🇲🇽 holgazanear

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,668 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

...
34665 misjudgment
34666 bossing
34667 unworn
34668 dawdle
34669 espy
34670 mocha
34671 colluding
...