LOITER Definition & Meaning

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loiter

[ loi-ter ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

to linger aimlessly or as if aimless in or about a place:
to loiter around the bus terminal.
Synonyms:
to move in a slow, idle manner, making purposeless stops in the course of a trip, journey, errand, etc.:
to loiter on the way to work.
Synonyms: , ,
to waste time or dawdle over work:
He loiters over his homework until one in the morning.
Synonyms: , ,

verb (used with object)

to pass (time) in an idle or aimless manner (usually followed by away ):
to loiter away the afternoon in daydreaming.
Synonyms:

loiter

/ ˈ��ɔɪ��ə /

verb

intr to stand or act aimlessly or idly

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Derived Forms

ˈ��Ǿ��ٱ��Բ�, nounadjective
ˈ��Ǿ��ٱ��, noun

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

��Ǿ�·�ٱ��·�� noun

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of loiter¹

First recorded before 1300–50; Middle English loteren, loytren, perhaps from Middle Dutch loteren “to stagger, totter”; compare Dutch leuteren “to dawdle”

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of loiter¹

C14: perhaps from Middle Dutch ��ö�ٱ�� to wobble: perhaps related to Old English ��ū�پ�� to lurk

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Synonym Study

Loiter, dally, dawdle, idle imply moving or acting slowly, stopping for unimportant reasons, and in general wasting time. To loiter is to linger aimlessly: to loiter outside a building. To dally is to loiter indecisively or to delay as if free from care or responsibility: to dally on the way home. To dawdle is to saunter, stopping often, and taking a great deal of time, or to fritter away time working in a halfhearted way: to dawdle over a task. To idle is to move slowly and aimlessly, or to spend a great deal of time doing nothing: to idle away the hours.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The bill sought to criminalize loitering with intent to buy sex and build on existing state law to make it a felony to solicit anyone under 18 for sex.

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North Korea initially revealed the existence of the drones - also known as loitering munitions, which crash into targets with their built in warheads - in August 2024.

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It is, of course, on the policy detail that disagreements loiter.

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The defence secretary said it was the second time the vessel had entered British waters in recent months, with Yantar also detected "loitering over UK critical undersea infrastructure" in November.

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It’s 200 feet in length and posted with warnings, including one that says trespassing and loitering are punishable by fines up to $1,000.

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Related 51�Թ�s

Lois loitering

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