languish

American  

[lang-gwish] / ˈlæŋ gwɪʃ /

verb (used without object)

1. to be or become weak or feeble; droop; fade.

   Whether the plant thrives or languishes and dies is heavily dependent on the climate.

2. to lose vigor and vitality.

   Though she was once full of energy, her illness had caused her to languish.

3. to undergo neglect or experience prolonged inactivity; suffer hardship and distress.

   to languish in prison for ten years.

4. to be subjected to delay or disregard; be ignored.

   a petition that languished on the warden's desk for a year.

5. to pine with desire or longing.

6. to assume an expression of tender, sentimental melancholy.

---

noun

1. Archaic. the act or state of being neglected, losing vigor, or becoming weak.

2. Archaic. a tender, melancholy look or expression.

languish British  

/ ˈlæŋɡwɪʃ /

verb

1. to lose or diminish in strength or energy

2. (often foll by for) to be listless with desire; pine

3. to suffer deprivation, hardship, or neglect

   to languish in prison

4. to put on a tender, nostalgic, or melancholic expression

---

Other Word Forms

• languisher noun
• languishing adjective
• languishingly adverb
• languishment noun

Etymology

Origin of languish

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Middle French languiss-, long stem of languir, from Latin languēre “to languish”; akin to laxus lax; -ish ²

Explanation

To languish is to become pitiful or weak because you're sick, in love, or stuck somewhere. A prisoner might languish in jail, longing for her freedom. Languish, like languid, is from the Latin word languere which means "to be weak or faint." Your houseplants might languish in a dark dry corner. A Romantic poet might languish on a velvet couch with the back of her hand to her forehead. People in operas love to languish: The main character in La Traviata, Violetta, languishes from longing and eventually tuberculosis.

Example Sentences

Many of those people still languish in detention centers, while many more have already been deported.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

The case likely would have continued to languish if not for the sergeant’s chance encounter with a professor that fall.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Others languish in Mexico with few resources and an uncertain path to legal status under Mexican law.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

Alphabet’s share price, which had fallen since the start of the year, continued to languish over the summer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026

“That they may not languish in unavailing grief,” he said in a slightly amplified voice, “nor sorrow as those who have no hope, but through their tears look always up to Thee....”

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Related Words

• deteriorate
• dwindle
• fail
• faint
• rot
• suffer
• weaken
• wither