linger

verb

USLING-gur/ˈlɪŋɡɚ/UKLING-guh/ˈlɪŋɡə/

3 meanings of linger

1
verbintransitive
To stay or remain in a place or situation longer than expected, often as if unwilling or unable to leave.
Tourists tend to linger by the fountain, reluctant to move on.
A faint perfume lingered in the hallway long after she had gone.
Similarstay, wait, loiter, tarry, abide
Oppositeleave, hurry, depart
2
verbintransitive
To remain alive or existent while still moving toward death or extinction; to die by slow degrees.
Patients with the disease may linger long after recovery seems impossible.
He lingered for months after the diagnosis, growing weaker each day.
Similarlanguish, survive, persist
3
verbidiomaticintransitive
To dwell on a subject in thought or discussion, considering it for an extended period of time.
Let us linger a moment on this point before moving on.
Her mind lingered on the strange remark for the rest of the evening.
Similardwell, pause, tarry

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English lengeren, a frequentative of lengen ("to stay, dwell, tarry"), from Old English lenġan ("to lengthen, delay, extend"), going back to Proto-Germanic *langijaną. It is related to the root of English 'long', with cognates like Dutch lengen and German längen.