as in to delay
to move or act slowly
since they were charging by the hour, the house painters lingered in finishing up their work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of linger
Then, with the camera lingering on Nunes, the former champion vigorously nodded her head in agreement.
—
Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Kelly Evans, Co-Host of CNBC’s Power Lunch Torrey Kleinman | CNBC
I was struck by how Michael Gapen, a Morgan Stanley economist, explained his lingering concerns about the tariff fallout on our show yesterday.
—Kelly Evans, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025
Memories lingered in deep sleep, like shadows with a mind and hunger of their own, so Rohan slept lightly — always aware, always listening, always on guard.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Related article Smell of death lingers in town at epicenter of Myanmar quake
People who have lost their homes are also dealing with temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), along with thunderstorms that rolled through last weekend.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for linger
Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Kelly Evans, Co-Host of CNBC’s Power Lunch Torrey Kleinman | CNBC
I was struck by how Michael Gapen, a Morgan Stanley economist, explained his lingering concerns about the tariff fallout on our show yesterday.
—Kelly Evans, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025
Memories lingered in deep sleep, like shadows with a mind and hunger of their own, so Rohan slept lightly — always aware, always listening, always on guard.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Related article Smell of death lingers in town at epicenter of Myanmar quake
People who have lost their homes are also dealing with temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), along with thunderstorms that rolled through last weekend.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for linger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for linger
Verb
-
There's also great uncertainty as Trump seeks negotiations with China and begins talks with other counties whose larger tariffs were delayed by 90 days.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Research suggests that females who have autism are more likely to use this strategy, which can lead to a mismatch between the internal experience and the external behavior—and may play a role in delaying diagnosis.1 4.—
Heidi Moawad, MD,
Verywell Health,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Simply fill the moat with water to keep unwanted pests from crawling down to the nectar ports.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2025
-
And setting your baby down on the ground to crawl around isn’t the cleanest option.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Antetokounmpo poked the ball away from Nembhard briefly and a scramble ensued, but the Pacers came up with the ball.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
-
The eye poke left Muhammad unable to continue, and the fight was ruled a no contest.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The longer the trade war drags on, the more likely Washington and Beijing will find other ways to retaliate beyond economics.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Paleontologists used to wonder if some marine reptiles did the same, awkwardly dragging themselves onto beaches to lay eggs rather than birthing their young at sea like whales do.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Security footage showed a male shooter in a red hoodie firing a handgun west on Illinois Street before fleeing. Hopkins, whose ward includes that block, told the Tribune a crowd of around 50 teens was loitering in the movie theater’s lobby before the shots rang out.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2025
-
In orbit, the spaceplane opens the doors to its cargo bay and extends a solar panel to produce electricity, allowing the X-37B to loiter in orbit for years.—
Stephen Clark,
Ars Technica,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Walking, riding, limping, trudging, scooting, strolling — all the various forms of low-speed locomotion — define the experience of being in New York.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
18 Apr. 2025
-
All to the excitement of onlookers strolling along the avenue, ending at Rockefeller Center to celebrate the day.—
Tonya Blazio-Licorish,
Footwear News,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Linger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/linger. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share