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
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 pitch lingered in the air before diving under Jackson Merrill’s whiffing bat for an inning-ending strikeout.
—
Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Tariffs, inflation and lingering fears of a recession have left many Americans uneasy and pulling back on spending.
—Michelle Chapman, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025
The finish is long and sweet, with lingering red berry and dried fruit notes.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
The heavy rains are expected to end Friday morning, but showers could linger through the holiday weekend.
—John Bacon, USA Today, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for linger
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Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Tariffs, inflation and lingering fears of a recession have left many Americans uneasy and pulling back on spending.
—Michelle Chapman, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025
The finish is long and sweet, with lingering red berry and dried fruit notes.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
The heavy rains are expected to end Friday morning, but showers could linger through the holiday weekend.
—John Bacon, USA Today, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for linger
Cite this Entry
“Linger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linger. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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