verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

linger

LIHNG-guh

Linger (verb) means to stay in a place longer than necessary, often reluctant to leave. Example: “We lingered over coffee long after the meal was finished.”

verb

To stay in a place longer than necessary, often reluctant to leave.

"We lingered over coffee long after the meal was finished."

"A faint smell of smoke lingered in the room."

To continue to exist or persist for longer than expected, especially before fading away.

"Doubts about the decision lingered for years."

How to use linger

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo stay somewhere, or persist, longer than you strictly need to.

Common pairings

linger over a lingering doubt lingering smell

Word forms

lingered past tense, Lingers plural, lingers singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

We _____ over coffee long after the meal was finished.

Etymology

From Old English lengan ("to lengthen, prolong"), related to the word long — to linger is, at root, to make a stay "longer."

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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lounge loaf hover lurk tarry loiter dawdle footle lollygag lallygag mess about mill about

Related words

stop leave eye bar remain kiss nonsense potter

Rhymes for linger

Inger finger ginger singer winger ringer zinger wringer stinger swinger bringer Klinger

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Frequently asked questions

What does “linger” mean?

The word “linger” means to stay in a place longer than necessary, often reluctant to leave. In plain terms, to stay somewhere, or persist, longer than you strictly need to.

How do you pronounce “linger”?

“Linger” is pronounced LIHNG-guh (/ˈlɪŋɡɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “linger” in a sentence?

Here is “linger” used in a sentence: “We lingered over coffee long after the meal was finished.”

What part of speech is “linger”?

“Linger” is a verb.

Where does the word “linger” come from?

The word “linger” comes from Old English. From Old English lengan ("to lengthen, prolong"), related to the word long — to linger is, at root, to make a stay "longer.".

Is “linger” a common word?

“Linger” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “linger” have?

“Linger” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to stay in a place longer than necessary, often reluctant to leave.

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