screw around

verb

screwed around; screwing around; screws around

intransitive verb

1
: to waste time with unproductive activity : dally
2
: to have sexual relations with someone outside of a marriage or steady relationship : be sexually promiscuous

Examples of screw around in a Sentence

he hired a private detective because he thought his wife was screwing around
Recent Examples on the Web Although, die-hard Richard Mille lovers will notice this is the first time the brand has changed the iconic screws around the outer edge of the bezels to Torq set screws, which has head slots that are distinctive and different from the norm. Rebecca Suhrawardi, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 But there’s still huge potential for rooftop solar, which can help cities stay powered when wildfires or other disruptions batter the larger electric grid — an increasingly common problem as the climate crisis screws around with global weather systems. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2023 Related Story Alexandra Daddario Posed Naked On IG Alexandra doesn’t screw around with her fitness. Korin Miller, Women's Health, 20 June 2023 Or to screw around in the sand? Pete Lyons, Car and Driver, 11 Mar. 2023 But Zendaya doesn’t screw around in her workouts. Korin Miller, Women's Health, 27 Feb. 2023 Our gas giants don't screw around. Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 30 Apr. 2012 Using the Internet like this to screw around with Putin’s image, by the way, is also a little reminiscent of something else along these lines. Andy Meek, BGR, 13 July 2022 Yeah, but not to screw around with their brain waves. Steven Levy, Wired, 14 Apr. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'screw around.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of screw around was in 1935

Dictionary Entries Near screw around

Cite this Entry

“Screw around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screw%20around. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

screw around

verb
1
: to waste time with unproductive activity : dally
2
: to have sexual relations with someone outside of a marriage
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!