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dally

[ dal-ee ]
/ ˈdæl i /
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See synonyms for: dally / dallied / dallying / dallier on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), dal·lied, dal·ly·ing.
to waste time; loiter; delay.
to act playfully, especially in an amorous or flirtatious way.
to play mockingly; trifle: to dally with danger.
verb (used with object), dal·lied, dal·ly·ing.
to waste (time) (usually followed by away).
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Origin of dally

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English dalien from Anglo-French dalier “to chat,” of uncertain origin

synonym study for dally

1. See loiter.

OTHER WORDS FROM dally

dal·li·er, noundal·ly·ing·ly, adverbun·dal·ly·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dally in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dally

dally
/ (ˈdælɪ) /

verb -lies, -lying or -lied (intr)
to waste time idly; dawdle
(usually foll by with) to deal frivolously or lightly with; trifle; toyto dally with someone's affections

Derived forms of dally

dallier, noun

Word Origin for dally

C14: from Anglo-French dalier to gossip, of uncertain origin
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
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