dawdle
dawdles
dawdling
dawdled
Dawdle means to waste time or move slowly. Regular verb: dawdle-dawdled-dawdled.
Meanings
- To waste time
- To move slowly
- To be slow or idle
Common Collocations
dawdle over
stop dawdling
dawdle along
no time to dawdle
Tip for Learners
Dawdle has a slightly negative tone of being too slow. "Stop dawdling and get ready!"
Present Simple
| I | dawdle |
| you | dawdle |
| he/she/it | dawdles |
| we | dawdle |
| they | dawdle |
Examples - Present Simple
- I dawdle on Sunday mornings.
- You dawdle when getting ready for school.
- He dawdles over breakfast every day.
- We dawdle during our leisurely walks.
- They dawdle in the toy aisle at the store.
Present Continuous
| I | am dawdling |
| you | are dawdling |
| he/she/it | is dawdling |
| we | are dawdling |
| they | are dawdling |
Examples - Present Continuous
- I am dawdling because I have nowhere to be.
- You are dawdling when you should be hurrying.
- She is dawdling on her way to class.
- We are dawdling through the park today.
- They are dawdling in the hallway again.
Present Perfect
| I | have dawdled |
| you | have dawdled |
| he/she/it | has dawdled |
| we | have dawdled |
| they | have dawdled |
Examples - Present Perfect
- I have dawdled too long this morning.
- You have dawdled away the entire afternoon.
- He has dawdled through his entire to-do list.
- We have dawdled and now we're late.
- They have dawdled at every stop.
Present Perfect Continuous
| I | have been dawdling |
| you | have been dawdling |
| he/she/it | has been dawdling |
| we | have been dawdling |
| they | have been dawdling |
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been dawdling for an hour already.
- You have been dawdling instead of packing.
- She has been dawdling over her homework.
- We have been dawdling all morning.
- They have been dawdling since they arrived.
Past Simple
| I | dawdled |
| you | dawdled |
| he/she/it | dawdled |
| we | dawdled |
| they | dawdled |
Examples - Past Simple
- I dawdled on my way to school.
- You dawdled over dinner last night.
- He dawdled through the museum exhibits.
- We dawdled and missed our train.
- They dawdled at the playground for hours.
Past Continuous
| I | was dawdling |
| you | were dawdling |
| he/she/it | was dawdling |
| we | were dawdling |
| they | were dawdling |
Examples - Past Continuous
- I was dawdling when you found me.
- You were dawdling while everyone waited.
- She was dawdling in the garden.
- We were dawdling along the riverbank.
- They were dawdling outside the classroom.
Past Perfect
| I | had dawdled |
| you | had dawdled |
| he/she/it | had dawdled |
| we | had dawdled |
| they | had dawdled |
Examples - Past Perfect
- I had dawdled so much we missed the show.
- You had dawdled too long before starting.
- He had dawdled away the morning hours.
- We had dawdled and lost our reservation.
- They had dawdled at every exhibit before closing.
Past Perfect Continuous
| I | had been dawdling |
| you | had been dawdling |
| he/she/it | had been dawdling |
| we | had been dawdling |
| they | had been dawdling |
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been dawdling for an hour before leaving.
- You had been dawdling all day before finishing.
- She had been dawdling for ages before getting ready.
- We had been dawdling all morning before rushing.
- They had been dawdling for too long before the bus came.
Future Simple
| I | will dawdle |
| you | will dawdle |
| he/she/it | will dawdle |
| we | will dawdle |
| they | will dawdle |
Examples - Future Simple
- I will dawdle on my day off.
- You will dawdle if there's no deadline.
- He will dawdle through the market tomorrow.
- We will dawdle during our vacation.
- They will dawdle at the fair all day.
Future Continuous
| I | will be dawdling |
| you | will be dawdling |
| he/she/it | will be dawdling |
| we | will be dawdling |
| they | will be dawdling |
Examples - Future Continuous
- I will be dawdling through the weekend.
- You will be dawdling while others work.
- She will be dawdling at the spa tomorrow.
- We will be dawdling along the beach next week.
- They will be dawdling through the shops.
Future Perfect
| I | will have dawdled |
| you | will have dawdled |
| he/she/it | will have dawdled |
| we | will have dawdled |
| they | will have dawdled |
Examples - Future Perfect
- I will have dawdled away the whole morning by noon.
- You will have dawdled for too long by then.
- He will have dawdled through every task by evening.
- We will have dawdled through the entire day.
- They will have dawdled at every attraction by closing.
Future Perfect Continuous
| I | will have been dawdling |
| you | will have been dawdling |
| he/she/it | will have been dawdling |
| we | will have been dawdling |
| they | will have been dawdling |
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
- I will have been dawdling for three hours by lunch.
- You will have been dawdling all morning by the time we leave.
- She will have been dawdling for hours by dinner.
- We will have been dawdling all day by sunset.
- They will have been dawdling since arrival by nightfall.