linger

verb

lin·​ger ˈliŋ-gər How to pronounce linger (audio)
lingered; lingering ˈliŋ-g(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce linger (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to be slow in parting or in quitting something : tarry
fans lingered outside the door
2
a
: to remain existent although often waning in strength, importance, or influence
lingering doubts
lingering odors
b
: to remain alive although gradually dying
was seriously ill, but lingered on for several months
3
: to be slow to act : procrastinate
He lingered in settling the estate in order to increase his fees.
4
: to move slowly : saunter
lingering homeward

transitive verb

1
: to pass (a period of time) slowly
2
obsolete : delay
lingerer noun
lingeringly adverb

Examples of linger in a Sentence

The tourists didn't linger very long. She lingered at the art exhibit. He lingered in bed and missed breakfast. They lingered over coffee after dinner. The heat lingered long after the sun had gone down. The smell of her perfume lingered. The idea lingered in their minds.
Recent Examples on the Web The time warp also has fed into lingering feelings of anti-socialness from when Navajo and Hopi shut down during the coronavirus pandemic. Terry Tang, The Arizona Republic, 9 Mar. 2024 The vinyl chloride released that day, combined with all the other chemicals that spilled and caught fire after the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, have left residents with lingering fears about possible long-term health consequences. CBS News, 7 Mar. 2024 The Panthers shouldn’t just bend to Burns’ demands, but the front office also needs to be mindful that Burns is a top-three player on the team, and his cap number could put a stranglehold on their ability to upgrade multiple positions if the tag lingers into free agency. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2024 The fossils of bones and the spores of dung-dwelling fungi each suggested that many large mammals were already in decline or even extinct thousands of years before the onset of the Younger Dryas; many others lingered long after. Zach St. George, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Despite defeat, the Super Eagles captain believes there were strong positives to take from a run to the final that settled any lingering differences with Peseiro. Callum Sutherland, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 Snow showers are expected to linger over the northern Sierra on Monday, and there will be additional possibilities of snow Tuesday and Wednesday. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Temperatures should linger in the low 60s for much of the week for the majority of the Bay Area. Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 During a recent appearance at the 7th Annual African American Film Critics Association Special Achievement Awards luncheon, Foxx detailed plans to answer whatever any lingering questions about the scare. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'linger.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (northern dialect) lengeren to dwell, frequentative of lengen to prolong, from Old English lengan; akin to Old English lang long

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of linger was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near linger

Cite this Entry

“Linger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linger. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

linger

verb
lin·​ger ˈliŋ-gər How to pronounce linger (audio)
lingered; lingering -g(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce linger (audio)
1
: to be slow in quitting a place or activity
lingered in bed
2
: to be slow to act
lingerer noun
lingeringly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on linger

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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