verb

loiter

LOY-tuh

verb

To stand or wait around somewhere without any clear purpose.

"A group of teenagers were loitering outside the shop."

"She loitered by the door, unsure whether to knock."

How to Use Loiter

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo hang around somewhere with no obvious reason, often looking a bit suspicious or aimless.

Common mistake

Often carries a slightly negative or suspicious tone — signs reading "no loitering" imply the behaviour is unwelcome.

Common pairings

loiter outside no loitering loiter with intent

loitered past tense, loiters plural, loiters singular

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A group of teenagers were _____ outside the shop.

From Middle Dutch loteren ("to shake, wobble, dawdle"), via Middle English loitren. Related to the English word "lout."

arse about arse around bludge bum around cabbage clown around dally dawdle dick around dick about diddle dilly-dally

energize make a move leave scraffle scramble take action work

work hobby come leave penis pull mock drag

biter writer waiter Jupiter arbiter orbiter Lassiter typewriter songwriter screenwriter scriptwriter counterfeiter

arse about arse around bludge bum around cabbage clown around dally dawdle dick around dick about diddle dilly-dally