linger

verb

ˈliŋ-gər How to pronounce linger (audio)
Definition of lingernext
as in to delay
to move or act slowly since they were charging by the hour, the house painters lingered in finishing up their work

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of linger The lingering smoke from Canadian wildfires may have kept some away but those in attendance were eager to show off their pets. — David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026 But England managed to quell any lingering feeling with a try after only four minutes to winger Tommy Freeman, then a double to backrower Ben Earl which gave it a 19-3 lead at halftime. — ABC News, 18 July 2026 That left a question lingering about how seriously each team would take Saturday’s third-place game. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2026 Mudlarks often linger on the therapeutic and quasi-mystical dimensions of their visits to the river. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for linger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for linger
  1. delay
  2. drag
  3. crawl
  4. poke
  5. loiter
  6. stroll
Verb
  • That James would also partner with Draymond Green, a former adversary, current friend and ally that delayed his free agency to give the Warriors additional cap space to secure James.
    — Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • But the Mavericks would prefer to trade Thompson than buy him out, and that could delay or eliminate this option for Miami unless Thompson pushes for a buyout in the weeks ahead, something that remains a possibility.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
Definition of delay
Verb
  • The European Space Agency’s ClearSpace-1, planned for 2029, tackles the harder case by capturing the unprepared, noncooperative Proba-1 satellite and dragging it down to burn up.
    — Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 22 July 2026
  • Hellerstein appeared skeptical that the parties would resolve all classified-information questions by June, noting that the process can drag on.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2026
Definition of drag
Verb
  • Fort Hood, Texas, one of the Army's largest bases, has closed one of its dining facilities after a video circulating on X appeared to show dozens of roaches crawling across the walls of the facility's kitchen.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • Flash flood warnings were then issued again for New York City and nearby states as thunderstorms crawled across the region on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Definition of crawl
Verb
  • Defense attorneys Blair Berk and Marilyn Bednarski did their best to poke holes in all this testimony during cross examination, and even tried to slip in wholesome details like Burke’s religious upbringing.
    — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 22 July 2026
  • Instead, her dad looks under the table and sees a jumble of limbs with Chastain’s smiling face poking out at him.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 July 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • Cheap drones, loitering munitions and widespread battlefield surveillance have made low-altitude operations far riskier for attack helicopters than in previous conflicts.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026
  • There’s just a better version lurking inside, one that could’ve elevated the action-chase genre instead of merely loitering there.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026
Definition of loiter
Verb
  • Harry and Archie strolled ahead of Lilibet, who wore a floral dress with metallic sandals while touting a tiny purse.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 23 July 2026
  • Could Leonardo da Vinci, alongside imagery of visitors strolling through art exhibitions, become the face of future euro banknotes?
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of stroll

Browse Nearby Words

line up
linger
lingered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Linger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/linger. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of linger for Spanish Speakers

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