- the act of lingering aimlessly or as if aimlessly in or about a place: A cluster of teens gathered in front of the plaza were charged with violating a city bylaw against loitering.
- the act of moving in a slow, idle manner, with purposeless stops: His celebration of loitering as the best form of travel will resonate with anyone who has ever dared toss away a tourist map.
- the act of wasting time or dawdling over work: As film director Jean Renoir notes, “The foundation of all civilization is loitering” because it gives time for creative thinking.
- lingering aimlessly, moving slowly and idly, or wasting time: Fossil fuels may not remain plentiful long enough to underwrite such a loitering transition to renewable energy.
