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
But a lingering threat remains: a shadow council of Imperial warlords, who are plotting to destroy the New Republic.
—
Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 May 2026
Joao Gomes, one of the few current players to escape the wrath of disgruntled supporters, lingered on the pitch after his team-mates had left following a brief, post-match lap of appreciation.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 2026
There’s also the potential risk of carrying over something unwanted into your new pot—lingering pests or diseases.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for linger
Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 May 2026
Joao Gomes, one of the few current players to escape the wrath of disgruntled supporters, lingered on the pitch after his team-mates had left following a brief, post-match lap of appreciation.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 2026
There’s also the potential risk of carrying over something unwanted into your new pot—lingering pests or diseases.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for linger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for linger
Verb
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As instability rose, the administration reverted to strict state control, detaining opposition figures and journalists while delaying elections.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
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Season 3 was delayed due to production issues, including, reportedly, co-creator Jason Sudeikis’ endless rewrites.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
30 May 2026
Verb
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For Paul, dragging long sheets of metal was intensive.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
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The United States’ stockpiles of crude oil, gasoline and diesel are falling fast as the war with Iran drags on.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
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At sunset, the city starts glowing around you while traffic crawls silently below.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
28 May 2026
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Rescuers say the best course of action is to drain the cave, so the five can crawl out.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Dunne later poked fun at her outburst in an Instagram post on Sunday, May 24, recapping her time at Saturday's game, a 5-2 loss for Skenes' Pirates.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
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Moments after MacKinnon got hurt, Keegan Kolesar deflected a shot off the pipe, then poked the rebound past goalie Scott Wedgewood to tie the score at 3.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 May 2026
Verb
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Mike MacLennan’s idea of market research as the CEO of a drive-thru AI company is loitering at Burger King.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
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Fans loitering just outside the barricade started to sense something was changing.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Paris is one of those places people dream of visiting their whole lives, strolling along the Seine River, snacking on sumptuous pastries, and savoring the joie de vivre.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
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Bibliophiles can stroll through exhibits showcasing library lore that highlights the enduring enchantment of books, along with the Book Fair offering various genres of books for sale, such as mystery, sci-fi, and romance.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Linger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/linger. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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