linger synonyms

linger

v.

  1. To go reluctantly

    tarry, stay, wait, saunter, lag, trail, hesitate, delay, plod, trudge, traipse, falter, totter, stagger, dawdle, lumber, procrastinate, slouch, shuffle, trifle, potter, fritter away time, shilly-shally, dillydally, idle, crawl, loll, vacillate, take one's time, wait, putter, hobble, be dilatory, be tardy, be long, sit around*, hang around*, hang back*, let the grass grow under one's feet*; see also loiter.

    Antonyms hasten, hurry*, speed. *

  2. To go slowly

    hang on, remain, be moribund; see delay 1, hinder. See syn. study at wait.

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.