lounge

American  

[lounj] / laʊndʒ /

verb (used without object)

lounged, lounging

1. to pass time idly and indolently.

   Synonyms:

   potter, dally, relax, idle, loaf

2. to rest or recline indolently; loll.

   We lounged in the sun all afternoon.

3. to go or move in a leisurely, indolent manner; saunter (usually followed by around, along, off, etc.).

---

verb (used with object)

lounged, lounging

1. to pass (time) in lounging (usually followed by away orout ).

   to lounge away the afternoon.

noun

1. a sofa for reclining, sometimes backless, having a headrest at one end.

2. a place for sitting, waiting, smoking, etc., especially a large public room, as in a hotel, theater, or air terminal, often with adjoining washrooms.

3. a section on a train, plane, or ship having various club or social facilities.

4. a cocktail lounge.

5. Archaic. the act or a period of lounging.

6. Archaic. a lounging gait.

lounge British  

/ laʊndʒ /

verb

1. (intr; often foll by about or around) to sit, lie, walk, or stand in a relaxed manner

2. to pass (time) lazily or idly

---

noun

1. 1. a communal room in a hotel, ship, theatre, etc, used for waiting or relaxing in

   2. ( as modifier )

      lounge chair

2. a living room in a private house

3. Also called: lounge bar.   saloon bar.  a more expensive bar in a pub or hotel

4. 1. an expensive bar, esp in a hotel

   2. short for cocktail lounge

5. a sofa or couch, esp one with a headrest and no back

6. the act or an instance of lounging

Synonym Usage

Lounge, loll, laze, and loaf can all be used to mean “to pass time idly.” But lounge implies a leaning or reclining posture, and an experience of comfort, relaxation, and enjoyment: When he was home, he preferred to lounge in his easy chair and watch TV. Loll also conveys a leaning posture: Visitors can loll on the grass in beanbag chairs or loungers. Laze suggests no particular posture, but a relaxed indulgence, as in We spent the summer swimming, surfing, and lazing under the sun, while loaf is sometimes used to convey idle wastefulness: I spent all of Sunday just loafing around the house.

Other Word Forms

• loungy
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of lounge

First recorded in 1500–10; origin uncertain

Explanation

It's hard to lounge, or recline comfortably, in the lounge, or waiting area, of an airport terminal. Maybe they shouldn't call it a lounge. Lounge comes from the French s'allonger meaning "to lounge about, lie at full length." Whether you're talking about a room with seats in a hotel made for waiting, or a nice comfy sofa, or the act of reclining comfortably, lounge has everything to do with making yourself comfortable in one spot for a while. It also means to hang around in an easy way, the way you might lounge around the poolside area in a luxury hotel.

Example Sentences

The Beverly Hills mansion features a wide range of custom amenities, including an indoor sports complex, complete with basketball and pickleball courts, a fully equipped gym, a boxing ring, a sports lounge, and a bar.

From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026

It offers refined classics such as sweaters, slacks and lounge wear through a direct-to-consumer online store.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

Each space runs $3 million to $5.5 million and includes an auto gallery, a lounge area and a fully appointed kitchen.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

And it cleans up in the third, loyalty revenue, including from credit cards, retail partners, and lounge memberships.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

Zoey’s sitting cross-legged and barefoot on one of the tan lounge chairs by the wooden planter boxes.

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner

Related Words

• idle
• laze
• loiter
• loll
• recline
• relax
• saunter
• sprawl