woolgathering

noun
UK: /ˈwʊlˌɡæðərɪŋ/
US: /ˈwʊlˌɡæðərɪŋ/

  1. The activity of spending time thinking about pleasant things that are not important instead of paying attention to what you should be doing.

    1. I caught him woolgathering in the middle of the important meeting.
    2. Her woolgathering during the lecture made it difficult for her to understand the main points.

  2. A state of absent-mindedness or dreamy inattention; a tendency to daydream.

    1. His woolgathering got him into trouble with his boss.
    2. She was prone to woolgathering, often lost in her own thoughts during class discussions.

Synonyms

reverie inattention
woolgathering intransitive-verb

  1. To indulge in daydreaming or fanciful thinking; to allow one's thoughts to wander aimlessly.

    1. He was woolgathering instead of working.
    2. She caught herself woolgathering and refocused on the task at hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "woolgathering" in English means: The activity of spending time thinking about pleasant things that are not important instead of paying attention to what you should be doing., A state of absent-mindedness or dreamy inattention; a tendency to daydream..

The phonetic transcription of "woolgathering" is /ˈwʊlˌɡæðərɪŋ/ in British English and /ˈwʊlˌɡæðərɪŋ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "woolgathering": reverie, inattention.

Example usage of "woolgathering": "I caught him woolgathering in the middle of the important meeting.". More examples on the page.