Word Explorer

Linger

/ˈlɪŋɡə/

To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so; to loiter.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Linger"

verb

1
To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so; to loiter.
2
To remain alive or existent although still proceeding toward death or extinction; to die gradually.
3
(often followed by on) To consider or contemplate for a period of time; to engage in analytic thinking or discussion.

🔄 Synonyms of "Linger"

15 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
loungenoun	(intransitive) To relax; to spend time lazily; to stand, sit, or recline, in an indolent manner.
tarryverb	(intransitive) To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
hoververb	(intransitive) To remain stationary or float in the air.
lurkverb	To hang out or wait around a location, preferably without drawing attention to oneself.
dallynoun	To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle.
dawdleverb	(intransitive) To spend time idly and unfruitfully; to waste time.
lallygagverb	To dawdle; to be lazy or idle; to avoid necessary work or effort.
loiterverb	To stand about without any aim or purpose; to stand about idly.
mill aboutverb	(intransitive, usually of a group of people) To move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.
loafnoun	(also loaf of bread) A block of bread after baking.
lollygagverb	(US) To dawdle; to be lazy or idle; to avoid necessary work or effort.
hang aroundverb	(idiomatic) To stay, linger, or loiter.
mill aroundverb	(intransitive, usually of a group of people) To move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.
footlenoun	To waste time; to trifle.
mess aboutverb	(intransitive) To misbehave

↔️ Antonyms of "Linger"

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
rushnoun	A sudden forward motion.
racenoun	A contest between people, animals, vehicles, etc. where the goal is to be the first to reach some objective.
hieverb	(intransitive, poetic) To hasten; to go quickly, to hurry.
speednoun	The state of moving quickly or the capacity for rapid motion.
hotfootnoun	Moving with haste or zeal.
pelt alongverb	step on it
belt alongverb	step on it
bucket alongverb	step on it
cannonball alongverb	step on it
rush alongverb	step on it
hastenverb	(intransitive) To move or act in a quick fashion.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Linger"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
tarryverb	(intransitive) To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
hang aroundverb	(idiomatic) To stay, linger, or loiter.
loiterverb	To stand about without any aim or purpose; to stand about idly.
lurkverb	To hang out or wait around a location, preferably without drawing attention to oneself.
loungenoun	(intransitive) To relax; to spend time lazily; to stand, sit, or recline, in an indolent manner.
mill aboutverb	(intransitive, usually of a group of people) To move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.
dawdleverb	(intransitive) To spend time idly and unfruitfully; to waste time.
mill aroundverb	(intransitive, usually of a group of people) To move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.
lollygagverb	(US) To dawdle; to be lazy or idle; to avoid necessary work or effort.
dallynoun	To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle.
mess aboutverb	(intransitive) To misbehave
footlenoun	To waste time; to trifle.
hoververb	(intransitive) To remain stationary or float in the air.
lallygagverb	To dawdle; to be lazy or idle; to avoid necessary work or effort.
loafnoun	(also loaf of bread) A block of bread after baking.
dwellverb	(intransitive, now literary) To live; to reside.
bideverb	(intransitive, archaic or dialectal) To wait; to be in expectation; to stay; to remain.
waitverb	(intransitive) To delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness.
persistverb	(intransitive) To go on stubbornly or resolutely.
stayverb	(intransitive) To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.