loiter Definition
loi·ter (lo̵it′ər)
intransitive verb
- to linger in an aimless way; spend time idly: often with about
- to walk or move slowly and indolently, with frequent stops and pauses
Etymology: ME loitren < MDu loteren (Du leuteren, to dawdle), akin to OE loddere, beggar < IE base *(s)leu-, to hang loosely > sleet, slur
transitive verb
to spend (time) idly loitered away the day
loiter Related Forms
loiter Synonyms
loiter
v.
loiter implies aimlessness or slowness of movement and may suggest a wasting of time in lingering or lagging to loiter around street corners; dawdle implies a wasting of time over trifles or a frittering away of time that makes for slow progress to dawdle over a cup of tea; dally suggests spending time in trifling or frivolous pursuits or in indecision; idle suggests habitual avoidance of work, or inactivity, indolence, etc. to idle away the hours
loiter Usage Examples
Object
time: The aircraft will also give the RAF an increased range of operations of over 6,000 miles and fourteen hours loiter time without refueling.
Preposition: on
- corner: Others loiter on street corners intimidating passers-by or cruise the streets in souped-up cars.
- street: Providing participants with somewhere to go and with something constructive to do with their spare time other than loiter on the streets.
Preposition: at
back: Phil, high on DSMB fumes starts to loiter at the back of the boat.
Preposition: outside
shop: The kids couldn't stand it so stopped loitering outside the shop.
Modifying Another Word
- palely: And this why I sojourn here Alone and palely loitering, Tho the sedge is withered from the lake, And no birds sing.
- about: Strangers loitering about could be harmless; on the other hand they may be up to no good.
- not: At any rate, let us not loiter in the arena of hot events.
- no: People habitually ignore signs saying: no parking, no smoking, or no loitering.
- then: He coaled his ships and then loitered in the Pacific whilst he decided what to do next.
- nearby: Over 100 crocodiles were loitering nearby, kept at bay by two other hippos standing guard either side of their dead companion.
Followed by an intransitive particle
around: If you see someone loitering around your vehicle, walk past until they leave.
Followed by a transitive particle
- around: We teachers resented the time we had to loiter around the school just in case a student walked in off the street.
- down: This morning, we were tantalizingly closer to the mountains, but there were clouds already loitering down the valley.
Used with why or when
where: They would loiter where is now the Godiva statue.
Preposition: in
- street: The Auld Licht, however, who meant marriage seldom loitered in the streets.
- area: Do not loiter in the area around the little roundabout at the front of the School.
- front: It was used outside Welsh convenience stores to stop teenagers from loitering in front of the entrances.
- midair: He loiters in midair, soliloquizing flippantly, until he chances to look down.
Preposition: with
intent: He went on to explain how the streets outside his union offices in Delhi are always cleared of anyone loitering with political intent.
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