as in delayed
to move or act slowly
since they were charging by the hour, the house painters lingered in finishing up their work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 lingered
But as a standoff with Realmuto has lingered, the Phillies began debating different paths.
—
Matt Gelb, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
McDaniel lingered in the hallway.
—Lila Shapiro, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2026
Some lingered from the tunnel to the concourse.
—Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Kelce’s potential retirement has lingered over the entirety of the Chiefs’ 2025-26 NFL season, which came to an end Sunday with the team’s 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
The ghosts of Holiday Bowl past lingered around Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, however, as Arizona (9-4) fought back from the 24-point deficit.
—Kyle Kensing, Dallas Morning News, 3 Jan. 2026
With the investigation pending, questions have lingered about how DTLA managed to amass so many plaintiffs so quickly.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
The contrast shower still didn’t deliver much shock, but the shift in my breath lingered long after.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 29 Dec. 2025
After improvements in passenger totals in 2021, 2022, and 2023, San Jose and Oakland both began to suffer slumps in 2024 and the weakening pattern has lingered well into 2025, a review of official airport statistics shows.
—Hector Amezcua, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Matt Gelb, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
McDaniel lingered in the hallway.
—Lila Shapiro, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2026
Some lingered from the tunnel to the concourse.
—Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Kelce’s potential retirement has lingered over the entirety of the Chiefs’ 2025-26 NFL season, which came to an end Sunday with the team’s 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
The ghosts of Holiday Bowl past lingered around Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, however, as Arizona (9-4) fought back from the 24-point deficit.
—Kyle Kensing, Dallas Morning News, 3 Jan. 2026
With the investigation pending, questions have lingered about how DTLA managed to amass so many plaintiffs so quickly.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
The contrast shower still didn’t deliver much shock, but the shift in my breath lingered long after.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 29 Dec. 2025
After improvements in passenger totals in 2021, 2022, and 2023, San Jose and Oakland both began to suffer slumps in 2024 and the weakening pattern has lingered well into 2025, a review of official airport statistics shows.
—Hector Amezcua, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lingered
Verb
-
Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Several school districts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire have delayed the start of classes Wednesday because of the freezing rain and icy roads.—
WBZ-News Staff,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sure enough, Hill took a short swing pass, collided with a would-be Georgetown tackler around the 10-yard line, and dragged three Eagles forward before falling on the pylon for a touchdown.—
Rick Cantu,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
-
In the June incident, Ross broke the window of a car when the driver refused to exit the vehicle and then found himself being dragged at least 50 yards when the driver hit the gas.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Manette poked fun at his famous recliner For over 35 years, Curt has settled into the same teal Bradington Young recliner to eat, watch TV and work out football plays.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Fox grabbed Vanderbilt to walk him away, but the Lakers forward poked Sochan in the face with his left index finger.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
One team member crawled inside and fired paintballs filled with vegetable oil, wildlife organization BEAR League told Fox News Digital on Thursday.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Scott’s almost-every-snap status has largely crawled under the radar this season.—
Mike Kaye
January 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The scene around them was picturesque — horses strolled in the distance, the sky bore a bright blue.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Paige Bueckers strolled into Unrivaled carrying the kind of aura that usually bends the room before a player ever steps on the floor.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The hotel is a short walk from the Jericho Tavern, where Radiohead played its first gig, in 1986, and around the corner from a now shuttered HMV, in whose aisles Donwood and Yorke once loitered, scouting the competition.—
Zoe Si,
New Yorker,
19 Dec. 2025
-
The drones also loitered above an Irish Navy vessel that had secretly deployed for Zelensky's visit.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
But then the Broncos’ offensive woes crept back to the forefront.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Individual mistakes crept into a squad that was already low on confidence from the end of Erik ten Hag’s managerial reign.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lingered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lingered. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share