loitering

[ loi-ter-ing ]

/ ˈlɔɪ tər ɪŋ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: loitering / loiterings on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of lingering aimlessly or as if aimlessly in or about a place: A cluster of teens gathered in front of the plaza were charged with violating a city bylaw against loitering.

the act of moving in a slow, idle manner, with purposeless stops: His celebration of loitering as the best form of travel will resonate with anyone who has ever dared toss away a tourist map.

the act of wasting time or dawdling over work: As film director Jean Renoir notes, “The foundation of all civilization is loitering” because it gives time for creative thinking.

adjective

lingering aimlessly, moving slowly and idly, or wasting time: Fossil fuels may not remain plentiful long enough to underwrite such a loitering transition to renewable energy.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of loitering

loiter + -ing¹ for the noun senses; loiter + -ing² for the adjective sense

OTHER WORDS FROM loitering

loi·ter·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby loitering

Loire-Atlantique, Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, Lois, loiter, loitering, Loja, lokacara, Lokayata, Lokayatika, Loki

How to use loitering in a sentence

These minor offenses include encroachment, loitering, illegal lodging and other activities associated with being homeless.
Homes not Jails: Safety through Services|Terra Lawson-Remer and Gloria Cruz Cardenas|October 23, 2021|Voice of San Diego
In addition to the drone swarm and underwater robots, the exercise featured a human-portable loitering munition, a kind of semi-autonomous flying weapon that can receive orders from a human operator to attack a selected target.
Drones could help save soldiers’ lives by delivering blood on demand|Rob Verger|July 25, 2021|Popular-Science
We’re loitering up top when we see, rising from behind a knuckle of rock, the telltale dust cloud of our truck spinning its wheels.
On mountain bikes in the Utah desert, a college reunion like no other|John Briley|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
They could not have been nicer, and they sent an officer by and presumably told the kids not to loiter in the parking lot, and the kids left the area.
Hints From Heloise: A safe Thanksgiving probably won’t be a traditional one|Heloise Heloise|November 12, 2020|Washington Post

Many officers concluded it wasn’t worth the hassle to arrest someone for relatively minor offenses, such as public disturbance or loitering, the former officer said.
What Can Mayors Do When the Police Stop Doing Their Jobs?|by Alec MacGillis|September 3, 2020|ProPublica
Now, with the publication of ‘Loitering,’ the uninitiated can discover what all the fuss is about.
Charles D’Ambrosio’s X-Ray Vision Is On Full Display In His New Essay Collection.|Steve Almond|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Reading Loitering I thought about David Foster Wallace a lot.
Charles D’Ambrosio’s X-Ray Vision Is On Full Display In His New Essay Collection.|Steve Almond|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The issue has quickly turned from the supposed issue at hand—namely, is he "loitering" in a place that forbids it?
Is America a Police State? For Many, Yes|Gene Robinson|September 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An absentee father is loitering about with his son and namesake, Mason Jr., at a deserted concert hall.
The Making of ‘Boyhood’: Richard Linklater’s 12-Year Journey to Create An American Masterpiece|Marlow Stern|July 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nor did we cruise in the singles bar or Christopher Street sense, loitering with sexual intent.
P.J. O’Rourke on Grabbing the Keys to Happiness|P. J. O’Rourke|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were slowing down at a station and there were no less than three picturesque looking young fellows loitering about the place.
The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle|Laura Lee Hope
Then off would roam Sally, perhaps loitering around fair Ingleside, or returning to her beloved pine woods and leafy oak-tree.
Maid Sally|Harriet A. Cheever
She tried to drop behind; but the team had an infinite capacity for loitering.
Earth's Enigmas|Charles G. D. Roberts
He was a bird of affairs; he had too much on his mind for loitering.
In Nesting Time|Olive Thorne Miller
She questioned a peasant who was loitering near the drawbridge.
A German Pompadour|Marie Hay