linger
Americanverb (used without object)
-
lingers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
lingered,
past participle, past
-
lingering
present participle
-
to remain or stay on in a place longer than is usual or expected, as if from reluctance to leave.
We lingered awhile after the party.
-
to remain alive; continue or persist, although gradually dying, ceasing, disappearing, etc..
She lingered a few months after the heart attack. Such practices still linger among the older natives.
-
to dwell in contemplation, thought, or enjoyment.
to linger over the beauty of a painting.
-
to be tardy in action; delay; dawdle.
to linger in discharging one's duties.
- Synonyms:
- tarry
-
to walk slowly; saunter along.
- Synonyms:
- loiter
verb (used with object)
-
lingers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
lingered,
past participle, past
-
lingering
present participle
-
to pass (time, life, etc.) in a leisurely or a tedious manner (usually followed by away orout ).
We lingered away the whole summer at the beach.
-
Archaic. to draw out or protract.
verb
-
to delay or prolong departure
-
to go in a slow or leisurely manner; saunter
-
to remain just alive for some time prior to death
-
to persist or continue, esp in the mind
-
to be slow to act; dither; procrastinate
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
lingerernoun
-
outlingerverb (used with object)
-
overlingerverb (used without object)
-
lingeringadjective
-
unlingeringadjective
-
lingeringlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
lingersimple
-
lingerssimple
-
have lingeredperfect
-
has lingeredperfect
-
am lingeringprogressive
-
are lingeringprogressive
-
is lingeringprogressive
-
have been lingeringperfect progressive
-
has been lingeringperfect progressive
Past
-
lingeredsimple
-
had lingeredperfect
-
was lingeringprogressive
-
were lingeringprogressive
-
had been lingeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of linger
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English lengeren “to dwell, remain,” literally, “to delay repeatedly,” from lengen, Old English lengan “to delay, lengthen, prolong”; see long 1, -er 6
Explanation
When someone lingers, he or she takes an unexpectedly long time to depart, as Romeo lingers when bidding Juliet farewell (or as annoying houseguests almost always tend to do). In addition to its primary meaning of "taking a long time to depart," linger has the additional meaning of "persisting while gradually weakening." In this sense, linger can refer to feelings or sensations that slowly fade away, like the smell of perfume that lingers in an elevator after the passengers have exited.
Vocabulary lists containing linger
The Diary of Anne Frank
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 12–15
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He had no time to linger on such thoughts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
This discomfort can linger for days – making easy, everyday tasks a challenge.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
Coco Gauff was frustrated by her mistake-filled performance during a first-round Wimbledon loss, but she is determined not to let negativity linger.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
In south Wales, the Midlands, East Anglia and southern England, early mist and fog could linger for a while in a few locations on Sunday.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
The field visible beyond the gates when they reach the other side is not crowded at this late hour, though a few scattered patrons coming or going linger nearby.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Residual dye lingers in tanks and fuel systems, Neuman said, adding that “even trace amounts in clear diesel can bring IRS and state penalties outside the waiver window.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
Yet the image of the male Viking warrior stubbornly lingers, drawing crowds while also haunting the galleries like a restless specter.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026
As the question lingers as to how Fortune died, petitions online signed by tens of thousands of people have called for more transparency, and members of US Congress have asked for federal intervention.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Carcopino’s text was indeed a popular standard, and even if scholars of ancient slavery have long since abandoned this exculpatory view, any living historian of ancient Rome can confirm that the misjudgment lingers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
A gray tinge lingers beneath her pink-white skin and more stubble dots along her chin.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Shares of CoreWeave fell 12% and are down more than 50% from their highs earlier this year as concerns about the cloud-computing company’s ability to pay down debt lingered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
The match eventually resumed on the fourth day and the cancellation of the tour was narrowly avoided, but mistrust and ill-feeling between England and Pakistan lingered for years later.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
In 1980, it was renamed the National Museum of American History, but the tension lingered.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026
After the memorial service, El-Sayed lingered for a bit to shake the hands of people in attendance.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
The wolf’s gaze lingered on Penelope for a long moment.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
British Athletics doctors ran tests that gave no answers, so she carried on, assuming it was lingering glandular fever that would eventually pass.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
The Dodgers are not benching Shohei Ohtani despite lingering injuries and a long slump.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
These cells stop dividing but remain alive, lingering in tissues rather than disappearing.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
Truist starts IBM stock at Hold, citing lingering concerns over the tech giant’s second-quarter execution fumble.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
While he waited, Pax licked his fur dry and clean, taking comfort in the lingering Peter-scent he found there.
From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
