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
The heaviest rain has ended in the immediate Washington area, although some showers linger.
—
Jeff Halverson, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Read Next California Massive sea creatures linger near boat off California coast in ‘unforgettable’ moment
March 21, 2024 10:52 AM
Read Next
California
Enormous sea creatures investigate a ‘startled’ blue shark off California.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
However, experts who focus on AI and music said questions surrounding copyright and ownership still linger as a new era of technology dawns in the music industry.
—Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
Arizona saw rain across the Valley and snow in the mountains during the Easter holiday, and forecasters say the stormy weather could linger in the area before leaving and returning later in the week.
—Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024
Plush tannins coat the tongue and gums while spice notes linger into a lengthy finish.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
Concerns linger as industry faces pandemic oversupply Arkansas bicycle shops are benefiting from the state's booming mountain bike scene, but broader issues in the market and local characteristics are complicating business.
—Aaron Gettinger, arkansasonline.com, 31 Mar. 2024
Up to 2 inches of rain is expected to hit Los Angeles County’s foothills and mountains over the next 24 hours, with the storm lingering over the region into Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
So are worries over the impact that lingering feelings of an unsafe and even hostile environment might have on southern Israel’s development.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
Jeff Halverson, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Read Next California Massive sea creatures linger near boat off California coast in ‘unforgettable’ moment
March 21, 2024 10:52 AM
Read Next
California
Enormous sea creatures investigate a ‘startled’ blue shark off California.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
However, experts who focus on AI and music said questions surrounding copyright and ownership still linger as a new era of technology dawns in the music industry.
—Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
Arizona saw rain across the Valley and snow in the mountains during the Easter holiday, and forecasters say the stormy weather could linger in the area before leaving and returning later in the week.
—Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024
Plush tannins coat the tongue and gums while spice notes linger into a lengthy finish.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
Concerns linger as industry faces pandemic oversupply Arkansas bicycle shops are benefiting from the state's booming mountain bike scene, but broader issues in the market and local characteristics are complicating business.
—Aaron Gettinger, arkansasonline.com, 31 Mar. 2024
Up to 2 inches of rain is expected to hit Los Angeles County’s foothills and mountains over the next 24 hours, with the storm lingering over the region into Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
So are worries over the impact that lingering feelings of an unsafe and even hostile environment might have on southern Israel’s development.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 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.
Dictionary Entries Near linger
Cite this Entry
“Linger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linger. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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