dawdle

USAGE SUMMARY

"dawdle" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to mean "to move or act slowly or without hurry", as in: I spent the morning dawdling in the park and didn't get any work done.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Five days, maybe six or seven if you dawdle, and in what feels like no time you'll be at the other end, in the pub, brimming with beer and achievement.

The Guardian - Travel

Having made your choice, dawdle on your way to the checkout page.

The Economist

The result is not just that universities are starved of cash, but that students often dawdle pointlessly over their courses.Michael Burda, an economics professor at Humboldt University in Berlin, says that, because his students are not paying personally, many "just use university as a way of filling in time".

The Economist

Typically, a man kills a neighbour in a dispute over land, the police dawdle over their investigation, the victim's family loses patience and kills the murderer or, more often, an innocent relation in retaliation.

The Economist

The AU says it may consider sending more.While western countries dawdle, this may be all the peacekeeping Darfur will get.

The Economist

Should Congressional Democrats dawdle on something, it's hard to imagine Mr Obama twisting arms and taking names, though Joe Biden seems to have signed up for a bit of LBJ duty during this interview with a 5th grader.

The Economist

It vents much of its displeasure on the bank-restructuring agency, which continues to dawdle.

The Economist

And the deal must also be approved by America's Congress, which can be expected to dawdle in an election year.

The Economist

People act in a timely way when given concrete tasks but dawdle when they view them in abstract terms.Dr McCrea and his colleagues conducted three separate studies.

The Economist

"We can't dawdle on this one," he declared.

The Economist

By allowing Collingwood's side to deliberately dawdle they deprived the Black Caps of the win they deserved.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dawdle" to describe a leisurely or unproductive way of spending time, especially when there's no urgency.

Common error

Avoid using "dawdle" in formal or professional settings where a more direct term like "delay" or "procrastinate" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dawdle" is as an intransitive verb, describing an action of moving or acting slowly and aimlessly. Ludwig confirms this usage, demonstrating its role in depicting a leisurely or unproductive use of time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "dawdle" functions primarily as an intransitive verb, signifying a slow, aimless, or unproductive use of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and versatile, commonly used to describe leisurely activities or unintentional delays. While "dawdle" is prevalent in news and general content, it is less suited for formal academic or professional contexts, where alternatives such as "delay" or "procrastinate" may be more appropriate. With its frequent appearance in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist, understanding the nuances of "dawdle" enhances effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dilly-dally

An informal and playful way to describe wasting time.

drag one's feet

Suggests reluctance or unwillingness to proceed.

linger

Focuses more on staying in one place for longer than necessary.

loiter

Suggests standing or waiting around aimlessly, often in a public place.

delay

Implies postponing or slowing down a process or action.

tarry

A somewhat old-fashioned term for delaying or lingering.

procrastinate

Specifically refers to delaying tasks, often due to avoidance.

slack off

Implies reducing effort or productivity, often at work.

waste time

A more direct way of saying that time is being used unproductively.

move slowly

Emphasizes the lack of speed in physical movement.

FAQs

How can I use "dawdle" in a sentence?

You can use "dawdle" to describe spending time idly, as in, "He likes to "dawdle" in the garden on weekends" or "She tends to "dawdle" when she's not interested in the task at hand."

What can I say instead of "dawdle"?

You can use alternatives like "linger", "dilly-dally", or "delay" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "dawdle" or "procrastinate"?

The best choice depends on the context. "Dawdle" implies a lack of urgency and a leisurely pace, while "procrastinate" suggests a deliberate delay of important tasks.

What is the difference between "dawdle" and "loiter"?

"Dawdle" suggests a slow, leisurely pace in movement or activity, whereas "loiter" typically means standing or lingering in a public place without a clear purpose.