lingered; lingering
ˈliŋ-g(ə-)riŋ 
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
Synonyms
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
While the herbicide itself sticks around for only a short time, the contaminant TCDD can linger in sediment for decades, said Kenneth Olson, a professor emeritus of soil science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
—
Hannah Norman and Patricia Kime, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024
That will linger into Sunday, albeit at a one out of five chance, said Ben Sheppard, a meteorologist at the Milwaukee office of the NWS.
—Journal Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2024
Still, hurt feelings between Bush and USC would linger.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Once the plates were cleared, guests lingered—saying final goodbyes to tablemates and, of course, walking over to Sturm for a goodbye hug.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024
Blissful memories of summertime trips to Spain have lingered with restaurateur Michal Bay for decades.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2024
One color, fueled by her synesthesia, lingered in her mind throughout the making of the album: blue.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2024
But one central mystery lingers: who was buried here?
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
But Sui also acknowledges the influence of fairytales, fashion literature, and punk music on her worldview, citing books of photos and works of nonfiction that have lingered in her psyche.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2024
Hannah Norman and Patricia Kime, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024
That will linger into Sunday, albeit at a one out of five chance, said Ben Sheppard, a meteorologist at the Milwaukee office of the NWS.
—Journal Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2024
Still, hurt feelings between Bush and USC would linger.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Once the plates were cleared, guests lingered—saying final goodbyes to tablemates and, of course, walking over to Sturm for a goodbye hug.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024
Blissful memories of summertime trips to Spain have lingered with restaurateur Michal Bay for decades.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2024
One color, fueled by her synesthesia, lingered in her mind throughout the making of the album: blue.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2024
But one central mystery lingers: who was buried here?
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
But Sui also acknowledges the influence of fairytales, fashion literature, and punk music on her worldview, citing books of photos and works of nonfiction that have lingered in her psyche.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 16 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near linger
Cite this Entry
“Linger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linger. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
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