dawdled
Took one's time
Dawdled is the past tense of dawdle, meaning to waste time or move slowly without purpose.
Someone who dawdled took longer than necessary, lingering or dallying instead of getting on with things: We dawdled over breakfast and missed the train.
The word carries mild reproach—dawdling suggests laziness or lack of focus rather than deliberate delay.
Remained beyond expected
- loiteredWaited idly somewhere
- meanderedTraveled without direct course
- ambledWalked slowly, relaxedly
- strolledWalked slowly, casually
sauntered · moseyed · puttered · idled · dillydallied · lollygagged · tarried · unhurried
Made to wait longer
- stalledStopped unexpectedly
- postponedMoved to a later date
- wasted timeHours spent unproductively
- put offTo postpone action
dithered · hesitated · killed time · frittered · trifled · avoided · distracted · unfocused
Fell further back
- pokySlow or cramped
- slowpokeUnhurried, frustratingly so
- distractedUnable to concentrate
- playgroundChildren's outdoor recreation space
tantrum · reluctant · whining · resistant · uncooperative · disobedient · stubborn · inattentive
lingered
Remained beyond expected
strolled · sauntered · moseyed · puttered · idled · dillydallied · lollygagged · tarried · unhurried · lagged
delayed
Made to wait longer
- stalledStopped unexpectedly
- postponedMoved to a later date
- wasted timeHours spent unproductively
put off · dithered · hesitated · killed time · frittered · trifled · avoided · distracted · unfocused · sidetracked
lagged behind
Fell further back
- pokySlow or cramped
- slowpokeUnhurried, frustratingly so
- distractedUnable to concentrate
playground · tantrum · reluctant · whining · resistant · uncooperative · disobedient · stubborn · inattentive · scattered