dawdle
verb (used without object)
to waste time; idle; trifle; loiter.
were dawdling
-
past progressiveof dawdle.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.
Two young Frenchwomen, who were dawdling along behind the party, heard the roar of the oncoming flood and managed to scramble up the rock wall to a ledge 12 feet above the ground.
From Time Magazine Archive
In Army posts all over Oahu, soldiers were dawdling into a typical idle Sunday.
From Time Magazine Archive
We were dawdling home from the westward on the flood.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, December 8, 1920 by Sir Owen Seaman
The others had gone on, and were dawdling along the road, when Bob, at his usual sober trot, turned out of the lane—Doctor Morton driving with Bella, Mr. Percy on horseback.
From A Canadian Heroine, Volume 1 A Novel by Mrs. Harry Coghill
"Well, you've made us awfully cheerful," said Major Hunt, when dinner was over, and they were dawdling over coffee.
From Captain Jim by Mary Grant Bruce
