adjective

lingering

LING-guh-ring

Lingering (adjective) means continuing to exist or be noticeable long after you would expect it to have gone. Example: “There was a lingering smell of woodsmoke in the hallway.”

adjective

Continuing to exist or be noticeable long after you would expect it to have gone.

"There was a lingering smell of woodsmoke in the hallway."

"She still has lingering doubts about the deal."

Slow and drawn out, especially of illness or death.

"After a long and lingering illness, he died at home."

verb

Present participle of linger: staying somewhere longer than necessary, often because you are reluctant to leave.

"A few guests were still lingering by the door at midnight."

"He lingered over the last of his coffee."

How to Use Lingering

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishStill hanging around when you'd expect it to be gone.

When to use it

Neutral; equally at home in everyday speech and literary description.

Memory tip

Linger is followed by "over" for activities you draw out ("linger over lunch") and "on" for things that persist ("the memory lingered on").

Easily confused with

loitering → dawdling enduring →

Common pairings

lingering doubt lingering smell lingering effects lingering illness lingering look

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “lingering” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

There was a _____ smell of woodsmoke in the hallway.

Synonyms

View more →

persistent enduring residual remaining abiding loitering dawdling hanging around tarrying protracted prolonged drawn-out

Antonyms

fleeting momentary

Related Words

other continued quick slow determined extended remaining classic

Rhymes for lingering

peering tapering lowering covering offering entering altering cheering steering uttering ordering towering

See all rhymes for lingering →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between lingering and loitering?

Lingering simply means staying on longer than expected, and is neutral or even affectionate. Loitering suggests hanging about with no purpose and carries a suspicious, sometimes criminal, edge — which is why signs say "no loitering" rather than "no lingering".

Can a feeling be lingering?

Yes. Doubts, resentment, sadness, hope and affection are all commonly described as lingering when they persist after the event that caused them has passed.

People Also Searched

other continued quick slow determined extended remaining classic