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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 Still some lingering light rain and breezy conditions across parts of the Northeast for tomorrow morning, but not a washout for most. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026 One dad jumped onto Reddit to vent about his recent experience on a flight with his family–and how being judged has led to some lingering hurt. — Devonne Goode, Parents, 26 Sep. 2026 On the restaurant terrace, guests lingered over a late breakfast after an early-morning session in the open-air Pilates studio. — Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2026 After lingering over spaghetti alle vongole at Ristorante Lido Azzurro, which hovers over the sea near Amalfi’s harbor, zip around the coast to sea caverns and grottos, pausing for dips in secluded spots away from the crowds. — Lane Nieset, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 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
  • The fight, Haro said, is about more than extending a lease or delaying an eviction.
    — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Many airlines issue travel waivers during storms or weather advisories, allowing passengers to rebook their flights without any extra fees if it could be impacted or if it gets delayed or canceled.
    — Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of delay
Verb
  • Both buyers and sellers remain trapped in a wait and see stance, further dragging on a US housing market that has been stagnant for nearly four years.
    — , CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Many outside analysts think that the conflict will drag on for longer and end with negotiations rather than with a clear winner.
    — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of drag
Verb
  • There’s also a less than 10% chance of showers, if one of the hurricanes crawls farther up the coast, according to Wofford.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Throughout the spring, there are fests crawling up both coasts and in between, too.
    — Norma A. Orovitz, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of crawl
Verb
  • Sometimes only the tips of the reeds and the seed heads were visible, poking above the murky water, and other times the reeds stood fully exposed, with a clear view of crabs clambering around their bases.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Video posted to social media showed one car nearly submerged, with just its sunroof poking above the water, as people moved other vehicles farther from the rising tides.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • The storm could then loiter just off the coast into next week.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The rock kids, the funk kids, the disco-ers, the club rats are all fleetingly conjoined by one pair of highly attuned ears loitering on the streets.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of loiter
Verb
  • Over the course of Next Gen NYC’s season, which ended this past week, the model Ava Dash grabs a slice of pizza on Fulton Street; strolls through the Seaport; and calls her father, the hip-hop mogul Damon Dash, from a bench at Pier 17.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 Sep. 2026
  • What to do nearby Step directly onto Ocean Drive to explore the surrounding Art Deco Historic District, or stroll across the street into Lummus Park for a seaside walk.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 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 2 Oct. 2026.

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