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.
lingered
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past participleof linger.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof linger.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
lingerverb (used without object)to remain or stay on in a place longer than is usual or expected, as if from reluctance to leave.
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 the memorial service, El-Sayed lingered for a bit to shake the hands of people in attendance.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
“Across the bay the yachts of the city’s rich lingered motionless all summer, never seeming to arrive or depart.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
But after it lingered on the market, Evans delisted the home in November 2025.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
But the chemicals take a long time to break down and have lingered in the environment, particularly in landfill, where they can leach into waterways and then into the sea.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
As he switched it off a sound lingered, the shadow of a hum—like another fishing boat in the distance.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
