Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » linger

linger

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

To linger is defined as to stay somewhere or to take a long time to do something.

(verb)

An example of linger is the last guest at a party who just won't go home.
An example of linger is when you take an hour to sip your cup of coffee.

See linger in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

to continue to stay, esp. through reluctance to leave: lingering at the door
to continue to live or exist although very close to death or the end
to be unnecessarily slow in doing something; delay; loiter

Origin: North ME lengeren, freq. of lengen, to delay, stay < OE lengan, to lengthen, delay < base of lang, long

transitive verb

to spend (time) idly, slowly, etc.

Related Forms:

lingerer noun
lingering adjective
lingeringly adverb

See linger in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb lin·gered, lin·ger·ing, lin·gers

verb, intransitive

To be slow in leaving, especially out of reluctance; tarry. See Synonyms at stay¹.
To remain feebly alive for some time before dying.
To persist: an aftertaste that lingers.
To proceed slowly; saunter.
To be tardy in acting; procrastinate.

verb, transitive

To pass (a period of time) in a leisurely or aimless manner.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English lengeren

Origin: , frequentative of lengen, to prolong

Origin: , from Old English lengan; see del-¹ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

linˈger·er noun

linˈger·ing·ly adverb

Learn more about linger

linger synonyms

linger in a sentence

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD

» more results...