dither

/ˈdɪðə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdɪðər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdi-t͟hər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈdɪð.ər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdɪð.ɚ/ (ame, ipa)

dither — verb

  • ditherpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • dithershe / she / it
  • ditheredpast simple
  • dithering-ing form

1. to keep changing your mind or delaying because you cannot make a decision

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to keep changing your mind or delaying because you cannot make a decision

例句

Edith dithered over which jacket to wear for nearly ten minutes.

dither over + noun phrase

Jeremiah dithered about whether to accept the job in Bristol.

dither about + whether-clause

同義詞
  • hesitate

    more neutral; can be a brief, sensible pause before acting

  • waver

    suggests swinging back and forth between choices

  • vacillate

    more formal; implies prolonged, habitual indecision

反義詞
  • decide

    to make a clear choice without delay

  • resolve

    to settle on a course of action with determination

文法句型

dither + about/over + noun phrase

dither + between + alternatives

stop dithering

用法筆記

Frequently used in progressive forms (is/was dithering). Often followed by 'over' or 'about' to introduce the decision being avoided. Can carry a mildly critical tone, suggesting the hesitation is unnecessary or excessive.

常見錯誤

❌He dithered to make a decision.
✅He dithered about making a decision.
💡'dither' cannot be followed by a to-infinitive; use 'about' or 'over' + gerund.
❌She was dithering the menu.
✅She was dithering over the menu.
💡'dither' is intransitive; it needs a preposition before its object.

dither — noun