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
Yet these employment cuts can have devastating consequences on workers and cause lingering damage to the labor market at large.
—
Omeed Maghzian, Harvard Business Review, 21 July 2025
Do lingering questions about this biotechnology disqualify it?
—Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
The kidnapping of a teen girl months earlier lingers in the background.
—Judy Berman, Time, 21 July 2025
Heat dome could last for weeks A bulge in the jet stream developing as high pressure builds could create a persistent heat dome lingering well into August, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said.
—John Bacon, USA Today, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for linger
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Omeed Maghzian, Harvard Business Review, 21 July 2025
Do lingering questions about this biotechnology disqualify it?
—Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
The kidnapping of a teen girl months earlier lingers in the background.
—Judy Berman, Time, 21 July 2025
Heat dome could last for weeks A bulge in the jet stream developing as high pressure builds could create a persistent heat dome lingering well into August, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said.
—John Bacon, USA Today, 20 July 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 25 Jul. 2025.
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