as in delayed
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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Recent Examples of lingered
As the sun set over Miami yesterday, the memory of Quatisha Maycock lingered—a reminder of a life cut short, and of a mother's resilience in seeking justice for her child.
—
Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
That remained the case as Kyle Tucker, a better and younger but more expensive corner outfielder, also lingered on the open market.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
The drowsy feeling always dissipated pretty quickly, though the mellow vibes sometimes lingered for hours—even after my laptop was propped back open.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
Later on Saturday night, long after the crowds and even backstage scene had dispersed, the two performers lingered in a dressing room at the Barceló Maya Riviera resort to discuss what sets them apart and what binds them.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026
As the night wound down in Hollywood, partygoers lingered, sweaty and smiling, voices raspy from singing with friends and strangers who felt like friends.
—Martine Thompson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
In a matter of weeks, illusions that had lingered for decades collapsed.
—Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2026
Specifically, forelimbs were lost early, while hindlimbs lingered for a long time in some ancient lineages.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Homes lingered on the market longer as sellers slashed prices and offered concessions.
—Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
That remained the case as Kyle Tucker, a better and younger but more expensive corner outfielder, also lingered on the open market.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
The drowsy feeling always dissipated pretty quickly, though the mellow vibes sometimes lingered for hours—even after my laptop was propped back open.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
Later on Saturday night, long after the crowds and even backstage scene had dispersed, the two performers lingered in a dressing room at the Barceló Maya Riviera resort to discuss what sets them apart and what binds them.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026
As the night wound down in Hollywood, partygoers lingered, sweaty and smiling, voices raspy from singing with friends and strangers who felt like friends.
—Martine Thompson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
In a matter of weeks, illusions that had lingered for decades collapsed.
—Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2026
Specifically, forelimbs were lost early, while hindlimbs lingered for a long time in some ancient lineages.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Homes lingered on the market longer as sellers slashed prices and offered concessions.
—Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lingered
Verb
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Requiring a shareholder vote introduces uncertainty, lengthens timelines, and raises the risk that a cable spinoff could be rejected or delayed.—
Corey Martin,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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His case has been indefinitely delayed due to a pending civil lawsuit involving the tactical unit that ultimately breached the classroom and killed the shooter.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
21 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
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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
-
LeBron James, who was not voted an All-Star starter for the first time since his rookie season, had 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers (26-16), who played the second half without center Deandre Ayton after he was poked in the eye.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Redick is hopeful that Ayton was just poked in the eye and will be back by the time the Lakers play the Clippers at Intuit Dome on Thursday.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
-
Even after authorities arrived at the scene, there was no way to apprehend him without killing Hall, so Kiritsis and Hall strolled out of the building and drove off in a police car.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Twelve astronauts strolled the lunar surface, beginning with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in 1969.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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But then the Broncos’ offensive woes crept back to the forefront.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
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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 23 Jan. 2026.
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