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 one of the main lessons that will be learned from that account is that while the harms that occurred came quickly and sometimes surprisingly easily, their negative consequences — on universities and society at large — will linger for a long time.
—
Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Dozens of people across multiple states have been confirmed dead after a powerful winter storm swept through large parts of the country, leaving a trail of damage and extreme cold lingering in its wake.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
After his verse, the track lingers for nearly three minutes with no distinct direction.
—Benny Sun, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026
Instead, the desire to survive generally wins out over lingering to admire the predator’s sizable claws or snout shape.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for linger
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Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Dozens of people across multiple states have been confirmed dead after a powerful winter storm swept through large parts of the country, leaving a trail of damage and extreme cold lingering in its wake.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
After his verse, the track lingers for nearly three minutes with no distinct direction.
—Benny Sun, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026
Instead, the desire to survive generally wins out over lingering to admire the predator’s sizable claws or snout shape.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for linger
Cite this Entry
“Linger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linger. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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