dally
to waste time; loiter; delay.
to act playfully, especially in an amorous or flirtatious way.
to play mockingly; trifle: to dally with danger.
to waste (time) (usually followed by away).
Origin of dally
1synonym study For dally
Other words for dally
Other words from dally
- dal·li·er, noun
- dal·ly·ing·ly, adverb
- un·dal·ly·ing, adjective
Words Nearby dally
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use dally in a sentence
Still, DAC’s gardens remind him that nature’s seasons never dally.
The King of Tents: How Jake Lah’s Influence Touches Every Corner of the Tent Industry | cobrien | February 15, 2022 | Outside OnlineWhy dilly-dally with teenage angst when you can bring on the Giant Robots, that was my motto.
Why, it's six thousand feet up here, and the wind don't monkey and dally around, hit gits right down to business.
David Lannarck, Midget | George S. HarneySire and sons returned from the cemetery invigorated for their dally labours.
Auld Licht Idylls | J. M. BarrieHe quite knew that to dally with the piano-player while smoking a high-class cigar was to insult the cigar.
The Regent | E. Arnold Bennett
As the tent was found to encroach partly on the same crevasse, it may be imagined that we did not dally long over the meal.
The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas MawsonThe novel sensation of an anticipated visit probably caused us to dally less than usual over our morning meal.
The Cruise of the "Esmeralda" | Harry Collingwood
British Dictionary definitions for dally
/ (ˈdælɪ) /
to waste time idly; dawdle
(usually foll by with) to deal frivolously or lightly with; trifle; toy: to dally with someone's affections
Origin of dally
1Derived forms of dally
- dallier, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse