as in residual
still existing or happening after something is completed or removed
The area is still feeling the lingering effects of the hurricane. There are lingering questions about the extent of his involvement in the crime.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
since they were charging by the hour, the house painters lingered in finishing up their work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 lingering
C.j. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.
—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2025
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
Irving remains on the roster amid lingering questions about his future after missing all of last season.
—
ABC News,
23 June 2026
So exemplary was Bergeron’s career, on the ice and off, there are no lingering grudges in this or that city, no bills to pay, no scores to settle.
—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
The lingering question raised but unanswered in the profile is how long Bunch can or will want to continue to fight back.
—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
23 June 2026
Destiny 2 is now over, and even if its lingering player count is encouragingly high, nothing is going to change on that front any time soon.
—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Inventories are unlikely to fully rebuild given the scale of draws in the first half-year and ongoing government stockpiling, the bank said, while lingering geopolitical risk premium would keep a floor under prices.
—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Southern Living also noted that local tourism officials are encouraging visitors to return to the region, as many businesses remain open and rely on tourism dollars despite lingering perceptions that the area is still closed following Hurricane Helene.
—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
That allows water to seep gradually down through the top few inches of soil where plants’ roots live, lingering long enough so that roots can absorb it.
—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Adjective
Thomas missed 57 games last season, mostly because of the same lingering left hamstring issue.
—
C.j. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.
—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
But for a growing number of older people, those retirement years are arriving with lingering debt problems attached.
—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
Irving remains on the roster amid lingering questions about his future after missing all of last season.
—
ABC News,
23 June 2026
So exemplary was Bergeron’s career, on the ice and off, there are no lingering grudges in this or that city, no bills to pay, no scores to settle.
—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
The lingering question raised but unanswered in the profile is how long Bunch can or will want to continue to fight back.
—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
23 June 2026
Destiny 2 is now over, and even if its lingering player count is encouragingly high, nothing is going to change on that front any time soon.
—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Inventories are unlikely to fully rebuild given the scale of draws in the first half-year and ongoing government stockpiling, the bank said, while lingering geopolitical risk premium would keep a floor under prices.
—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Southern Living also noted that local tourism officials are encouraging visitors to return to the region, as many businesses remain open and rely on tourism dollars despite lingering perceptions that the area is still closed following Hurricane Helene.
—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
That allows water to seep gradually down through the top few inches of soil where plants’ roots live, lingering long enough so that roots can absorb it.
—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lingering
Adjective
-
Hayes recommends hiring a professional to handle residual insecticide options if possible.
-
The loss of closer Daniel Palencia has seemingly had a residual effect on the rest of the bullpen, as evidenced by Saturday’s implosion by Trent Thornton, Caleb Thielbar and Jacob Webb, who combined to give up eight runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Verb
-
And while research shows that exercise supports healthy sleep by regulating body temperature, mood, metabolism and circadian rhythm, Weiner cautions that exercising too close to bedtime can interfere with sleep by delaying sleep onset, shortening sleep duration and lowering overall sleep quality.
-
The remaining providers are stretched thin, and patients are traveling farther for care — often delaying prenatal visits or arriving in labor without adequate support.
Adjective
-
In fact, some are doing little to hide their skepticism – and, in some cases, outright frustration – with the memorandum of understanding, which White House officials hope to spin into a more lasting peace agreement and nuclear accord.
-
But for a group of children at Maria Fareri, the more lasting memory may be the morning a group of strangers in green and yellow showed up just to cheer for them.
Verb
-
Yet the latest round of fighting has underscored the group’s resilience, dragging Lebanon into a regional war and drawing the Israeli military back to a familiar southern Lebanon terrain.
-
According to the criminal complaint, the boy told police Diggs began choking him before dragging him into the nearby alley.
Verb
-
The post included a picture of a baby’s feet poking out from a blanket.
-
In Labour circles, there is an old joke poking fun at Burnham’s chameleon-like ability to blend into whichever set of ideas is in vogue on the left at that moment in time.
Verb
-
Add a Physical Barrier Since ticks prefer to hide in grass and other plants and brush, adding a non-plant barrier like wood chips or gravel can stop ticks from ever crawling into your yard.
-
The video shows an officer tumbling on the ground, crawling in front of a parked car for cover and ultimately becoming fully prone.
Verb
-
Best Prime Day Matching Sets for Summer Summer temperatures are already creeping in, serving as a friendly reminder that pants aren’t always a fit for June.
-
Humidity starts creeping back up on Thursday.
Cite this Entry
“Lingering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lingering. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
