linger
verb (used without object)
to remain or stay on in a place longer than is usual or expected, as if from reluctance to leave.
had been lingering
-
past perfect progressiveof linger.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
After falling nearly 20% last year, prices had been lingering in the lower $60s before the latest geopolitical flare-up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 19, 2026
Staff at the terminus in the city centre said the odour had been lingering inside the building for at least 10 days.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2024
Richner in February organized a coalition of more than 200 newspapers to advance a tax proposal that had been lingering in the state capital.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 24, 2024
Servicers had 1.25 million pending applications at the end of October, more than 450,000 of which had been lingering for at least a month.
From New York Times ● Jan. 5, 2024
Todd had been lingering in the background, listening to their conversation.
From "Hopping Mad (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #4)" by Franklin W. Dixon
