In English vocabulary and word usage, select the antonym (word opposite in meaning) of the verb "loiter", which describes moving slowly, lingering, or standing around without any clear purpose.

Introduction / Context:
Competitive English questions often test antonyms for everyday verbs, especially those used in instructions and descriptions. The word "loiter" is frequently used in notices outside schools, offices, and shopping areas. Understanding its exact meaning helps you choose an accurate opposite and improves both your reading and writing skills.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The word to be tested is "loiter". • You are asked to find the antonym, that is, the opposite in meaning. • The options given are "lag", "hasten", "amble", and "loll". • Exactly one option must express the opposite of "loiter".

Concept / Approach:
"Loiter" means to move slowly, stand around, or linger in a place without a clear reason or purpose. Signboards that say "Do not loiter" are asking people not to hang about idly. Therefore, the antonym should express the idea of moving quickly or doing something actively and purposefully. A good strategy is to restate the core meaning in your own words and then search for an option that contradicts that meaning directly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Paraphrase "loiter" as "waste time by hanging about idly or moving slowly without purpose". Step 2: Think of the reverse situation, where someone moves quickly or with urgency and clear aim. Step 3: Examine the option "hasten". It means to hurry or move faster. Step 4: Compare "hasten" with the meaning of "loiter". They clearly describe opposite types of movement. Step 5: Check that the other options do not provide this opposite sense.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to verify is to imagine sentences. "The students were loitering in the corridor" implies they were hanging about without purpose. The opposite would be "The students hastened to their classroom", which shows quick movement with a clear goal. Replacing "loiter" with "hasten" in the original sentence completely changes the meaning, confirming that they are opposites.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Lag" means to fall behind or move more slowly than others. This still carries the idea of slowness and delay, so it is close to "loiter" rather than opposite. "Amble" means to walk at a relaxed, easy pace. It suggests slow, casual movement, again similar to loitering. "Loll" means to sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way, often with drooping posture. This also indicates idleness, not a quick, purposeful action.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners try to pick a word that they know least, assuming difficulty equals correctness. Others confuse similar slow movement verbs with opposites. To avoid mistakes, always anchor yourself in the exact definition and image of the word tested. Visualising the situation often makes the true opposite obvious. Practice with groups of related verbs so that you become comfortable separating synonyms from antonyms.

Final Answer:
The correct antonym of "loiter" is hasten.