lingered; lingering
ˈliŋ-g(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to be slow in parting or in quitting something : tarry
fans lingered outside the door
2
a
: to remain existent although often waning in strength, importance, or influence
lingering doubts
lingering odors
b
: to remain alive although gradually dying
was seriously ill, but lingered on for several months
3
: to be slow to act : procrastinate
He lingered in settling the estate in order to increase his fees.
4
: to move slowly : saunter
lingering homeward
Synonyms
Examples of linger in a Sentence
The tourists didn't linger very long.
She lingered at the art exhibit.
He lingered in bed and missed breakfast.
They lingered over coffee after dinner.
The heat lingered long after the sun had gone down.
The smell of her perfume lingered.
The idea lingered in their minds.
Recent Examples on the Web
But the House panel rarely lingered over evidence that concerned the origins of the coronavirus, or responsibility for its brutal toll in the United States.
—
Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 3 June 2024
Out since May 11, Slater (concussion) has played two rehab games and gone hitless in six at-bats with a walk and one strikeout and has more work to do to get back in shape after being entirely shut down from activity while his concussion symptoms lingered for more than a week.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 31 May 2024
Tu helped bring classical music to the Westlake/MacArthur Park Station to keep people from lingering amid a spate of killings and overdoses last year.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2024
Because of relatively weak steering winds, the storms will be slow to move, lingering over the area and leading to the potential for heavy rainfall, the weather service said in its forecast discussion.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for linger 
Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 3 June 2024
Out since May 11, Slater (concussion) has played two rehab games and gone hitless in six at-bats with a walk and one strikeout and has more work to do to get back in shape after being entirely shut down from activity while his concussion symptoms lingered for more than a week.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 31 May 2024
Tu helped bring classical music to the Westlake/MacArthur Park Station to keep people from lingering amid a spate of killings and overdoses last year.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2024
Because of relatively weak steering winds, the storms will be slow to move, lingering over the area and leading to the potential for heavy rainfall, the weather service said in its forecast discussion.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for linger
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'linger.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near linger
Cite this Entry
“Linger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linger. Accessed 7 Jun. 2024.
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