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
The storm lingered in Texas, causing damage from strong winds and pummeling the region with heavy rain.
—
David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
Popular on Variety But Jim doesn’t remain the lone host for long, nor is the nostalgia allowed to linger.
—Steven Oxman, Variety, 9 July 2024
There’s also lingering questions about the effectiveness of the restrictions, with even some FTC officials suggesting children may find ways around them.
—Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
Apple’s Vision Pro has made some progress toward growing the market for headsets, despite its $3,500 price tag and the lingering stigma against wearing a computer on your face.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for linger 
David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
Popular on Variety But Jim doesn’t remain the lone host for long, nor is the nostalgia allowed to linger.
—Steven Oxman, Variety, 9 July 2024
There’s also lingering questions about the effectiveness of the restrictions, with even some FTC officials suggesting children may find ways around them.
—Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
Apple’s Vision Pro has made some progress toward growing the market for headsets, despite its $3,500 price tag and the lingering stigma against wearing a computer on your face.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 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 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share