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Loiter

/ˈlɔɪtə(ɹ)/

To stand about without any aim or purpose; to stand about idly.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Loiter"

verb

1
To stand about without any aim or purpose; to stand about idly.
"For some reason, they discourage loitering outside the store, but encourage it inside."
2
To remain at a certain place instead of moving on.
3
For an aircraft to remain in the air near a target.

🔄 Synonyms of "Loiter"

12 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
loungenoun	(intransitive) To relax; to spend time lazily; to stand, sit, or recline, in an indolent manner.
tarryverb	(intransitive) To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
lurkverb	To hang out or wait around a location, preferably without drawing attention to oneself.
lallygagverb	To dawdle; to be lazy or idle; to avoid necessary work or effort.
mill aboutverb	(intransitive, usually of a group of people) To move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.
loafnoun	(also loaf of bread) A block of bread after baking.
lollygagverb	(US) To dawdle; to be lazy or idle; to avoid necessary work or effort.
hang aroundverb	(idiomatic) To stay, linger, or loiter.
mill aroundverb	(intransitive, usually of a group of people) To move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.
footlenoun	To waste time; to trifle.
mess aboutverb	(intransitive) To misbehave
lingerverb	(intransitive) To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Loiter"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
hang aroundverb	(idiomatic) To stay, linger, or loiter.
lurkverb	To hang out or wait around a location, preferably without drawing attention to oneself.
loungenoun	(intransitive) To relax; to spend time lazily; to stand, sit, or recline, in an indolent manner.
lollygagverb	(US) To dawdle; to be lazy or idle; to avoid necessary work or effort.
mill aboutverb	(intransitive, usually of a group of people) To move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.
mill aroundverb	(intransitive, usually of a group of people) To move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.
tarryverb	(intransitive) To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
mess aboutverb	(intransitive) To misbehave
lingerverb	(intransitive) To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so.
footlenoun	To waste time; to trifle.
lallygagverb	To dawdle; to be lazy or idle; to avoid necessary work or effort.
loafnoun	(also loaf of bread) A block of bread after baking.
lagnoun	Late.
bum aroundverb	(transitive and intransitive, informal) To wander around idly to no purpose; to loaf or loiter.
hangverb	(intransitive) To be or remain suspended.
sit aroundverb	To spend time sitting idly, not doing anything important.
prowlnoun	(colloquial) The act of prowling.
hang aboutverb	(informal) Especially in the form to hang about with (someone): to spend time or be friends with.
wasp aroundverb	To hover or loiter aimlessly around a place.
laze aroundverb	(intransitive, informal) To do nothing in particular; to be idle.