DictionaryputterUnhurried activity
verb

putter

To move or work casually without a clear aim.

On quiet afternoons, I putter around the house without any plans.

Etymology

Putter is a variant of potter in the idle-activity sense. It is separate from the golfing implement.

More examples

  • She putters in the garden until lunchtime.
  • We spent Sunday puttering around, doing a little of this and that.
  • He puttered in the garage but never finished anything.

Forms

putter · putters · puttered · puttering

Similar words

tinker
Suggests small adjustments or repairs rather than general aimless activity.
dawdle
Emphasizes moving slowly or wasting time rather than casual activity.