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.
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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.
Shares of CoreWeave fell 12% and are down more than 50% from their highs earlier this year as concerns about the cloud-computing company’s ability to pay down debt lingered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Those summer clouds that had darkened the atmosphere among fans had lingered into the start of this Nations League campaign.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
In 1980, it was renamed the National Museum of American History, but the tension lingered.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026
After the memorial service, El-Sayed lingered for a bit to shake the hands of people in attendance.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Nobody cared when Seven lingered at the corners of those meetings, but there were some meetings where Witchlings were absolutely never allowed, and tonight was one of them.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
