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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of linger
The indelible smell lingered — to the point of me thinking of skipping out on my perfume du jour.
—
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
As details of Prince Andrew's past correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein continue to surface, royal experts claim King Charles III is facing mounting pressure from family members to exile his brother as fear of the monarchy's demise lingers.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Pointed gestures toward the lingering tension between Japan and Korea — and between those two countries and the rest of the planet — are drowned out by tiresome bickering and exaggerated gags, like a meaningful conversation swallowed into the sound of an airplane engine screaming overhead.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
However, if the swell lingers, changes are possible, and the advisory will be extended.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for linger
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
As details of Prince Andrew's past correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein continue to surface, royal experts claim King Charles III is facing mounting pressure from family members to exile his brother as fear of the monarchy's demise lingers.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Pointed gestures toward the lingering tension between Japan and Korea — and between those two countries and the rest of the planet — are drowned out by tiresome bickering and exaggerated gags, like a meaningful conversation swallowed into the sound of an airplane engine screaming overhead.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
However, if the swell lingers, changes are possible, and the advisory will be extended.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for linger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for linger
Verb
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In recent years, some Wyandotte residents have tried to get the government to delay or cancel its tax sales, which usually happen twice a year, to prevent people who have struggled to pay sky-rocketing property tax bills from losing their family homes.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
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The continued closure of the Rafah crossing is preventing delivery of equipment needed to find dead hostages and will therefore delay recovery efforts, Hamas said, according to Reuters.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The innovation could pave the way for medical tools that move through the body’s arteries or inspection devices that crawl into complex machinery.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
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Over three hours, small groups navigate a challenging underground world, scrambling over boulders, belly-crawling through narrow passages, and squeezing through tight spaces to discover hidden marble wonders.—
Heide Brandes,
AFAR Media,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One poked his head into the live shot and later stuck his hand into the frame, seemingly seeking a fist bump from the reporter.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Kean himself gets a tattoo hand-poked into his skin and applies medieval salves to his wounds.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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His low cross found Pascal Gross for a tap-in at the far post after Luke Shaw had been dragged central trying to cut off Adam Lallana.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Vader moves the blade, raises it, but the shadow seems to only deepen, the pull of the dark side suddenly stronger, a riptide that threatens to drag him under.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There were times when Drew came home from meetings with the city council, the clinic board of trustees, or even a trial and found Jocko loitering around, kicking his Hacky Sack as part of his never-ending fitness program.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
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Models rush and loiter in robes and hair clips.—
Nathan Heller,
Vogue,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Head to Harrison Pumpkin Festival to pick out the most gourd-geous pumpkin, or sip on a pumpkin spice latte and stroll through Charm at the Farm's October Market to find the perfect fall decor for the home.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Oct. 2025
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Take time to stroll along the riverfront for some of the best fall scenery in town.—
Chantelle Kincy,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Linger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/linger. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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