loiter
Say it: LOY-tuh /ˈlɔɪtɚ/ · verb
What “loiter” means
Hang around without an obvious purpose.
More precisely: To stand or wait around idly without any obvious purpose.
Example: “Teenagers loiter outside the corner shop after school.”
When to use it
Use it in everyday descriptions of people lingering somewhere without doing much, sometimes with a mildly disapproving tone.
Similar words
linger, hang around, idle
Quick check
You hang around a shop doorway with nothing to buy, nowhere to go and nobody to meet. What are you doing?
commute or loiter?
Show the answer
loiter
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