How Do You Spell DILLYDALLIED?

Pronunciation: [dˈɪlɪdid] (IPA)

Dillydallied is a peculiar term used to describe someone who hesitates or procrastinates. The phonetic transcription of dillydallied is /ˈdɪliˌdælid/. The spelling of this word consists of two parts, "dilly" and "dallied," each consisting of three syllables. The word is a combination of the slang terms "dilly" and "dallied." Dilly means wasting time, while dallied means to act slowly or delay unnecessarily. Together, they create a word rich in both phonetic and semantic complexities. So, next time you find yourself wasting time, be sure to dillydally thoughtfully.

DILLYDALLIED Meaning and Definition

1. Dillydallied is a verb that describes the act of wasting time, lingering, or procrastinating without any real purpose or urgency. It is often used to convey a sense of unnecessary delay, lack of productivity, or indecisiveness.

   When someone dillydallies, they engage in activities that do not contribute to progress or completion of a task. This behavior may involve engaging in leisurely or trivial activities instead of focusing on what needs to be done. Dillydallied can also refer to excessive and unnecessary contemplation or hesitancy when making decisions.

   The term dillydallied is often used in a mildly disapproving or admonishing manner, suggesting a notion of wasting precious time that could have otherwise been used productively. It implies a lack of efficiency, discipline, or seriousness in attending to important matters or obligations.

   For example, if a student spends hours scrolling through social media instead of working on their assignments, they could be said to have dillydallied. Similarly, if someone excessively weighs the pros and cons of a simple decision without taking action, they could be accused of dillydallying.

   In summary, dillydallied refers to the act of wasting time, delaying without purpose, or being indecisive. It denotes a lack of urgency, productivity, or focus on completing tasks or making decisions efficiently.

Common Misspellings for DILLYDALLIED

• dillydalier
• dillydallier
• dilleedallied

Etymology of DILLYDALLIED

The word dillydallied is derived from the longer phrase dilly-dally, which originated in the late 16th century. The exact etymology is uncertain, but it is believed to be an alteration or combination of various words with similar meanings. Dilly may come from the German word dillich, meaning foolish or weak-minded. The term dally means to waste time or linger aimlessly. Over time, dillydally became a verb meaning to procrastinate or delay unnecessarily. Adding the -ed suffix creates the past tense form, dillydallied.

Similar spelling words for DILLYDALLIED

• dilly-dallier,
• dillydally,
• dilly-dally,
• dillydallier.

Conjugate verb Dillydallied

CONDITIONAL

I would dillydally

we would dillydally

you would dillydally

he/she/it would dillydally

they would dillydally

FUTURE

I will dillydally

we will dillydally

you will dillydally

he/she/it will dillydally

they will dillydally

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have dillydallied

we will have dillydallied

you will have dillydallied

he/she/it will have dillydallied

they will have dillydallied

PAST

I dillydallied

we dillydallied

you dillydallied

he/she/it dillydallied

they dillydallied

PAST PERFECT

I had dillydallied

we had dillydallied

you had dillydallied

he/she/it had dillydallied

they had dillydallied

PRESENT

I dillydally

we dillydally

you dillydally

he/she/it dillydallies

they dillydally

PRESENT PERFECT

I have dillydallied

we have dillydallied

you have dillydallied

he/she/it has dillydallied

they have dillydallied

I am dillydallying

we are dillydallying

you are dillydallying

he/she/it is dillydallying

they are dillydallying

I was dillydallying

we were dillydallying

you were dillydallying

he/she/it was dillydallying

they were dillydallying

I will be dillydallying

we will be dillydallying

you will be dillydallying

he/she/it will be dillydallying

they will be dillydallying

I have been dillydallying

we have been dillydallying

you have been dillydallying

he/she/it has been dillydallying

they have been dillydallying

I had been dillydallying

we had been dillydallying

you had been dillydallying

he/she/it had been dillydallying

they had been dillydallying

I will have been dillydallying

we will have been dillydallying

you will have been dillydallying

he/she/it will have been dillydallying

they will have been dillydallying

I would have dillydallied

we would have dillydallied

you would have dillydallied

he/she/it would have dillydallied

they would have dillydallied

I would be dillydallying

we would be dillydallying

you would be dillydallying

he/she/it would be dillydallying

they would be dillydallying

I would have been dillydallying

we would have been dillydallying

you would have been dillydallying

he/she/it would have been dillydallying

they would have been dillydallying