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.
Yields on eurozone government bonds rose while the French 10-year bond yield hit its highest level since July 2002 as inflation, budget and debt risks lingered on both sides of the Atlantic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
They lingered on a bench in hospital reception without toys, bedding or baggage of any kind.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
The smell of smoke lingered in the air.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
In 1980, it was renamed the National Museum of American History, but the tension lingered.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026
I lingered in the street to count them, though it was cold in the January dawn.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
