Phrase guide

putter around

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To engage in meaningless activity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

move around aimlessly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: putter, potter, potter around

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: move

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Occitan: vagar — to engage in meaningless activity
  • Occitan: trabalhejar — to engage in meaningless activity
  • Polish: krzątać się — to engage in meaningless activity
  • Portuguese: ficar de enrolação — to engage in meaningless activity
  • Serbo-Croatian: prčkati — to engage in meaningless activity
  • Serbo-Croatian: petljati — to engage in meaningless activity