loiter synonyms

loiter

v.

linger, linger idly, dawdle, dally, idle, lag, saunter, stroll, delay, shuffle, waste time, putter, procrastinate, traipse, shamble, pass time in idleness, loaf, lounge, tarry, fritter away time, loll, wait, hover, pause, dillydally, hang back, shilly-shally, amble, slacken, trail, drag, flag, ramble, laze along, hang around*, hang out*, let the grass grow under one's feet*; see also loaf 1.

Antonyms hurry*, hasten*, stride along.

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

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.