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Definition of dally

dally

/ˈdæli/
dal · ly
Past Simple:dallied
•
Past Participle:dallied
•
Present Participle:dallying
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dally Lexical Profile

dally Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To act or move slowly, wasting time when one should be hurrying.

Example

"We must not dally along the trail if we hope to reach the cabin before sunset."

2

To engage in a casual romantic or playful relationship without serious commitment, or to toy with an idea.

Example

"During his university years, he dallied with the idea of becoming a playwright before choosing a career in law."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for dally

• Nearby Words

dall sheep
dallas
dalliance
dally
dalmatian
daly
daly river

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English dalien ('to converse politely or amorously'), borrowed from Old French dalier ('to chat, socialize, or mock'), of uncertain further origin.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dally. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dally
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