Antonyms for pottering

Grammar : Noun, verb

Spell : pot-er

Phonetic Transcription : ˈpɒt ər

Definition of pottering

Origin : "maker of pots" (they also sometimes doubled as bell-founders), late Old English pottere "potter," reinforced by Old French potier "potter," agent noun from root of pot (n.1). As a surname from late 12c. Potter's field (1520s) is Biblical, a ground where clay suitable for pottery was dug, later purchased by high priests of Jerusalem as a burying ground for strangers, criminals, and the poor (Matt. xxvii:7). An older Old English word for "potter" was crocwyrhta "crock-wright."

As in inactivity : noun inaction
As in inertness : noun inaction
As in inoperativeness : noun inaction
As in idleness : noun laziness, inaction
As in mess around : verb fiddle; goof off
As in putter : verb dawdle
As in trifle : verb toy with; mess around
As in twiddle : verb fiddle
As in fiddle : verb mess with, tinker

Example sentences :

I could manage the little jobs that I'd get—in fact, pottering about at them would do me good.
Extract from : « The Great Hunger » by Johan Bojer

He left the room and she heard him pottering in the kitchen.
Extract from : « The Paliser case » by Edgar Saltus

Just as if we hadn't had enough tinkering and pottering lately.
Extract from : « Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104, March 11, 1893 » by Various

The men were a sculptor, pottering with clay, and his model.
Extract from : « The Wit of a Duck and Other Papers » by John Burroughs

Harlan was engaged in that pleasant pastime known as “pottering.”
Extract from : « At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern » by Myrtle Reed

Then she saw old Lawdor pottering in and out of a room into which she had not yet looked.
Extract from : « The Girl from Sunset Ranch » by Amy Bell Marlowe

In an humble and pottering way, we are a happy family, James.
Extract from : « A Pessimist » by Robert Timsol

What did that pottering vagabond mean by arousing us in the middle of the night?
Extract from : « Our Southern Highlanders » by Horace Kephart

I am not fit for anything more now than pottering about with my fishing-lines.
Extract from : « Lords of the World » by Alfred John Church

And what a pottering old rascal Charley was among the stone walls.
Extract from : « Ravenshoe » by Henry Kingsley

Synonyms for pottering

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019