languishing
Americanadjective
-
becoming languid, in any way.
-
expressive of languor; indicating tender, sentimental melancholy.
a languishing sigh.
-
lingering.
a languishing death.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of languishing
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at languish, -ing 2
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.
Bitcoin has been in the doldrums for months, with its fall back from highs above $100,000 in late 2025 accelerating since January and prices languishing around $60,000 until a slow march higher through April.
From Barron's • May 1, 2026
The American historian then announces that she has found the prized volume languishing in a monastery archive.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Eddie Howe's side are languishing in 14th place following an eighth defeat in 11 fixtures.
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
Former DOJ prosecutors told ProPublica that they typically reviewed caseloads every six months with supervisors and that closing out languishing cases wouldn’t ordinarily be cause for concern.
From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026
In 1962, CIA officials learned that the Soviets might be willing to exchange Powers for a senior KGB agent, Colonel Rudolf Abel, who was then languishing in a US federal prison in Georgia.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Definitions 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.
