LINGER persisting while gradually weakening."----------------------taking a long time to depart,

When someone lingers, he or she takes an unexpectedly long time to depart, as Romeolingers when bidding Juliet farewell (or as annoying houseguests almost always tend to do).

In addition to its primary meaning of "taking a long time to depart," linger has the additional meaning of "persisting while gradually weakening." In this sense, linger can refer to feelings or sensations that slowly fade away, like the smell of perfume that lingers in an elevator after the passengers have exited.

remain present although waning or gradually dying

“Her perfume lingered on”

Type of:

persist, remain, stay

stay behind

vbe about

Synonyms:

footle, hang around, lallygag, loaf, loiter, lollygag,lounge, lurk, mess about, mill about, mill around, tarry

Types:

lurch, prowl

loiter about, with no apparent aim

Type of:

be

have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)

vtake one's time; proceed slowly

Synonyms:

dawdle

Antonyms:

belt along, bucket along, cannonball along, hasten, hie,hotfoot, pelt along, race, rush, rush along, speed, step on it

move fast

Type of:

move

move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion

vleave slowly and hesitantly

Synonyms:

tarry

Type of:

go away, go forth, leave

go away from a place

vmove to and fro

“The shy student lingered in the corner”

Synonyms:

hover

Type of:

hesitate, waffle, waver

pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

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WORD FAMILY

linger

lingered

lingering

the "linger" family

USAGE EXAMPLES

• Nevertheless I lingered, quite taken with a seasonal menu that is both approachable and ambitious.
  Seattle Times Jan 16, 2014
• “Halfway through the exhibition, we noticed a shift,” with visitorslingering longer over “The Goldfinch,” Mr. Wardropper said.
  New York Times Jan 17, 2014
• Before the game, Anthony said the ill effects from their Eastern Conference semifinal series were still lingering.
  New York Times Jan 17, 2014
• A few of London Grammar’s songs build up to dance beats — a useful commercial tactic — but the music doesn’t linger there.
  New York Times Jan 17, 2014

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