loiter
gb/lˈɔɪtɚ/ us/lˈɔɪtɚ/
B2
English
lézeng, ácsorog, elidőzik, lófrál, itt tartózkodni tilos, tilos az ácsorgás
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
loiter (around/about) [place]
A group of kids were loitering outside the store, so the manager asked them to move on.
Egy csapat gyerek lézengett a bolt előtt, ezért a boltvezető megkérte őket, hogy menjenek tovább.
Please don’t loiter in the doorway—you’re blocking people.
Kérlek, ne ácsorogj az ajtóban, mert feltartod az embereket.
He loitered near the exit, hoping to talk to her again.
Learner examples
Don’t loiter outside the building.
Ne lézengj az épület előtt.
They were loitering near the bus stop.
A buszmegálló közelében lézengtek.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *wait* when the meaning is negative or purposeless; *loiter* often suggests ‘no good reason’ for being there.
Meaning
hang around without a purpose
Collocations
loiter outside
|loiter around the entrance
|loiter in the hallway
|loiter near the station
|loiter in the parking lot
|people loitering
|teenagers loitering
|loiter on the corner
|loiter at the mall
|loiter after school
Synonyms
hang around (More informal and often less negative.)
|
linger (Often more neutral and can suggest enjoyment.)
|
mill about (Emphasizes moving around slowly in a group.)
Antonyms
leave (Go away from the place.)
|
move on (Stop staying there and continue elsewhere.)
|
hurry (Do the opposite of wasting time.)
Themes
daily_life
|city_life
|behavior
Definition
to stay somewhere and not do anything important
To stay in a place without a clear purpose, especially in a public area, often in a way that annoys others or seems suspicious.
VERB
C1
2
Usage pattern:
loiter along/down [street] | loiter on the way to [place]
We loitered along the waterfront, stopping to look at the boats.
A vízparton sétálgatva el-elidőztünk, és közben meg-megálltunk megnézni a csónakokat.
If you loiter on the way to school, you’ll be late.
Ha útközben elidőzöl iskolába menet, elkésel.
She loitered behind the others to avoid starting a conversation.
Learner examples
Don’t loiter on the way home.
Ne időzz el hazafelé.
We loitered along the street.
Lófráltunk az utcán.
Common mistake:
This meaning is less common than ‘hang around’; in many everyday cases, *dawdle* or *walk slowly* is more natural.
Meaning
walk or move slowly and aimlessly
Collocations
loiter along the street
|loiter down the road
|loiter on the way home
|loiter behind the group
|loiter at the back
|loiter along the river
Synonyms
dawdle (Strongly suggests wasting time.)
|
amble (Slow, relaxed walking; not necessarily wasting time.)
|
lag (Stay behind others in a group.)
Antonyms
hurry (Move quickly because you have limited time.)
|
rush (Move very quickly, often with urgency.)
Themes
travel
|daily_life
Definition
to go somewhere very slowly, wasting time
To move slowly or stop repeatedly while going somewhere, so that you take longer than necessary.
VERB
B2
LEGAL
3
Usage pattern:
loiter in/near [place]
The sign says it’s illegal to loiter in this area after 10 p.m.
A tábla szerint este 10 óra után tilos ezen a területen tartózkodni.
Security asked him to leave because he was loitering near the entrance.
A biztonsági őr megkérte, hogy távozzon, mert a bejárat közelében ácsorgott.
Police were called after several people continued to loiter on the property.
Learner examples
The sign says “No loitering.”
A táblán ez áll: „Itt tartózkodni tilos.”
It is illegal to loiter here.
Itt tilos tartózkodni.
Common mistake:
*Loitering* is often the noun on signs (“No loitering”); the verb is *to loiter*.
Meaning
stay somewhere against rules (loitering)
Collocations
No loitering
|loitering prohibited
|it is illegal to loiter
|loiter near a school
|loiter in a restricted area
|anti-loitering laws
|loiter on private property
Synonyms
trespass (Entering or staying on private property without permission (not the same as merely staying in public).)
|
hang around (Similar behavior, but without the legal/rules emphasis.)
Antonyms
comply (Follow the rule or instruction to leave.)
|
depart (Leave the area, especially officially or formally.)
Themes
law
|public_space
Definition
to stay somewhere when it is not allowed
To remain in a particular public place when it is not allowed or when authorities consider it suspicious; often used in signs and legal contexts as loitering.
Grammar
Dictionary form
loiter
IPA
GB/lˈɔɪtɚ/
US/lˈɔɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
loiter (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (loiter)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: loiter
- 3rd Person Singular: loiters
- Present Participle: loitering
- Past: loitered
Word family
Forms
loiters
verb
loitering
verb
loitered
verb
Related words
loiterer
noun
Expressions
loiter over
1/lˈɔɪtɚ ˈoʊvɚ/
phrasal verb
literary
take too long doing something
to do something very slowly and for a long time
Examples
- They loitered over lunch, talking until the café closed.
- Don’t loiter over the report—we need it by noon.
loitering with intent
1/lˈɔɪtɚɪŋ wˈɪθ ɪntˈɛnt/
fixed phrase
legal
be somewhere for a suspicious purpose
staying somewhere because you plan to do something (often bad)
Examples
- He was arrested for loitering with intent to sell drugs.
- We were just loitering with intent to buy concert tickets, not cause trouble.
no loitering
1/nˈoʊ lˈɔɪtɚɪŋ/
fixed phrase
legal
sign: do not hang around
a sign that means “don’t stay here”
Examples
- There’s a “No loitering” sign outside the store.
- The security guard pointed to the “No loitering” notice and asked them to move on.
Learner examples
- The sign says “No loitering.”