dawdle
verb (used without object)
to waste time; idle; trifle; loiter.
dawdled
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past participleof dawdle.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof dawdle.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
dawdleverb (used without object)to waste time; idle; trifle; loiter.
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.
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
Called for a single by Foakes, Stokes dawdled and was beaten by a direct hit from Shreyas at mid-wicket.
From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2024
When the horses eventually broke from the gate, Zenyatta, as usual, dawdled.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2023
The second equalizer came just 23 seconds after Arsenal had regained the lead, following a huge mistake by Jorginho, who dawdled on the ball in midfield and gave the ball away.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 24, 2023
Yu Jian, chairman of the class and one of the best students, was somewhere in the middle of the line, while I dawdled so that I could be in the back of the group.
From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang
