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
And while hair perfumes are typically less concentrated and contain less alcohol (to prevent dryness), our testers appreciated that the scent lingers all day long.
—
Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Its quiet, almost enough to get out, but theres one vehicle lingering.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
The finish is a high point that lingers for almost a minute after each sip, at once robust and balanced.
—David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The four-kilowatt demonstration model proved the concept could generate electricity, but due to costs the technology mostly lingered in labs and small pilots.
—New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for linger
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Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Its quiet, almost enough to get out, but theres one vehicle lingering.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
The finish is a high point that lingers for almost a minute after each sip, at once robust and balanced.
—David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The four-kilowatt demonstration model proved the concept could generate electricity, but due to costs the technology mostly lingered in labs and small pilots.
—New Atlas, 16 Sep. 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 17 Sep. 2025.
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