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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of linger
The Georgia Republican Party passed a resolution last year seeking to block Raffensperger from qualifying for office, a symbolic move that underscored the lingering anger toward him inside the party.
—
Joe Kovac, AJC.com, 12 May 2026
Any rain that lingers into Thursday will remain very light.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Without a day planned in 15-minute increments, travelers can respond to what actually happens around them — saying yes to a local festival, discovering a hidden trail or lingering at a neighborhood café without watching the clock.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2026
Few expect a resolution to the Taiwan issue, lingering since China and Taiwan split in a civil war in 1949.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for linger
Joe Kovac, AJC.com, 12 May 2026
Any rain that lingers into Thursday will remain very light.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Without a day planned in 15-minute increments, travelers can respond to what actually happens around them — saying yes to a local festival, discovering a hidden trail or lingering at a neighborhood café without watching the clock.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2026
Few expect a resolution to the Taiwan issue, lingering since China and Taiwan split in a civil war in 1949.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for linger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for linger
Verb
-
Alexis Mac Allister, whose fall from grace this season has been akin to Fabinho’s stark decline in 2022-23, stupidly delayed the taking of a Villa corner with some playacting which even prompted Slot to tell him to get up.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
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Air Charter Service offers an eclipse charter flight from London Stansted Airport that gives eclipse chasers flexibility by delaying the final destination decision until close to departure day, allowing organizers to target the clearest skies.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Analysts have repeatedly warned that if the war drags on and supply chains are disrupted for long enough, prices for gas and a range of other goods could continue to climb.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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Billy, who speaks in a honeyed southern accent, dresses in Old Hollywood drag, and lives alone in the defunct summer camp where Camp Miasma was shot, isn’t just an envoy from another generation but a representative of a more visceral relationship with art.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Surveillance video from one convenience store that was burglarized shows a man in a hoodie crawling in through a hole in the bottom of the front door, climbing over the front counter and opening the cash register.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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Staff started out by wearing bear masks and animal furs, then crawling into the enclosure to spoon-feed the cubs formula.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Aggressive bears are known to stalk, claw and even bite tourists in Great Smoky National Park, but rangers say one recent encounter involved a bear poking a hiker with its big wet nose.—
Mark Price
May 12,
Charlotte Observer,
12 May 2026
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Many curious passersby poked their heads inside, wondering if the restaurant was serving food again.—
Iris Kwok
May 12,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Russia soon augmented its capabilities by acquiring Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 loitering munitions from Iran.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
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Daisy doesn’t have to spend too much time loitering in downtown Toronto before Gilead makes its move.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
Verb
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For comfortable weather to stroll the French Quarter and live music without peak-event pricing, the best time to visit New Orleans is in the fall, just after the height of hurricane season.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
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Just minutes from downtown, Andreas Canyon feels like strolling through an ancient desert oasis.—
Christina Pérez,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Linger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/linger. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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