dillydally
Definition of dillydally
intransitive verb: to waste time by loitering or delaying: re about dillydally
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Synonyms & Antonyms for dillydally
Synonyms
- crawl,
- creep,
- dally,
- dawdle,
- delay,
- diddle,
- drag,
- lag,
- linger,
- loiter,
- lollygag
- (also lallygag),
- mope,
- poke,
- shilly-shally,
- tarry
Antonyms
- barrel,
- bolt,
- career,
- course,
- dash,
- fly,
- hasten,
- hotfoot (it),
- hurry,
- race,
- rip,
- rocket,
- run,
- rush,
- scoot,
- scud,
- scurry,
- speed,
- tear,
- whirl,
- whisk,
- whiz
- (or whizz),
- zip
Examples of dillydally in a Sentence
don’t dillydally on the way to the store restaurant employees who, during the slow periods, would rather be doing something instead of just dillydallying Recent Examples on the Web Bathroom breaks and other excuses for dillydallying give your heart rate a chance to return to normal. — Elizabeth Narins, Cosmopolitan, “18 Ways to Maximize Your Workout and Lose Weight Faster,” 22 May 2015
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word ‘dillydally.’ Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of dillydally
1741, in the meaning defined above
History and Etymology for dillydally
reduplication of dally
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Time Traveler for dillydallyTime Traveler
The first known use of dillydally was in 1741
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From the Editors at Merriam-WebsterThe Joy of Reduplicative Rhyming Words The Joy of Reduplicative Rhyming WordsHocus-pocus, artsy-fartsy, and more fun-to-say compounds
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Cite this Entry
“Dillydally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dillydally. Accessed 6 Aug. 2020. MLA Chicago APA Merriam-WebsterStyle: MLA
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More Definitions for dillydally
dillydallyverbHow to pronounce dillydally (audio)
English Language Learners Definition of dillydally
informal : to move or act too slowly : to waste time
See the full definition for dillydally in the English Language Learners Dictionary
dillydallyverbdil·ly·dal·ly | ˈdi-lē-ˌda-lē How to pronounce dillydally (audio) dillydallied; dillydallying
Kids Definition of dillydally
: to waste time : dawdle Don’t dillydally in your work.
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More from Merriam-Webster on dillydally
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dillydally
Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with dillydally
Spanish Central: Translation of dilly
