dally
verb (used without object)
to waste time; loiter; delay.
was dallying
-
past progressiveof dally.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Klopp empowers his players to think for themselves: the iconic winning goal against Barcelona in last year’s Champions League semifinal came from the squad’s observation that its opponent was dallying during set pieces.
From New York Times ● Jun. 26, 2020
John remembered that he was dallying with his mission, instead of fulfilling it.
From Peter's Mother by Mrs. Henry De La Pasture
The upper rim of the sun was dallying with a crimson cloud, whilst the greater part of his disc was still below the well-defined deep-blue horizon.
From Rattlin the Reefer by Frederick Marryat
Then, while our senior was dallying with an early strawberry, Winter gave me a lead.
From The Motor Pirate by G. Sidney Paternoster
She was turning over this, that, and the other hostile thought and childish grievance—most of all she was dallying with the idea of asking him where he had been till after midnight.
From The Damnation of Theron Ware by Harold Frederic
