Definitions for linger
ˈlɪŋ gərlin·ger

Princeton's WordNet(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. lingerverb

   remain present although waning or gradually dying

   "Her perfume lingered on"

2. loiter, lounge, footle, lollygag, loaf, lallygag, hang around, mess about, tarry, linger, lurk, mill about, mill aroundverb

   be about

   "The high school students like to loiter in the Central Square"; "Who is this man that is hanging around the department?"

3. tarry, lingerverb

   leave slowly and hesitantly

4. linger, dawdleverb

   take one's time; proceed slowly

5. hover, lingerverb

   move to and fro

   "The shy student lingered in the corner"

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. lingerverb

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

2. lingerverb

   To remain alive or existent although still proceeding toward death or extinction; to die gradually.

3. lingerverb

   To consider or contemplate for a period of time; to engage in analytical thinking or discussion.

4. Etymology: leng "to lengthen, delay" (11-16 centuries), from Old English lengan, probably of Indo-European origin (cognates include persian لنگ)

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. To Lingerverb

   To protract; to draw out to length. Out of use.

   I can get no remedy against this consumption of the purse. Borrowing only lingers and lingers it out, but the disease is incurable. William Shakespeare, Henry IV. p. i.

   She lingers my desires. William Shakespeare.

   Let your brief plagues be mercy,
   And linger not our sure destructions on. William Shakespeare.

2. To Lingerverb

   Etymology: from leng , Saxon, long.

   1. To remain long in languor and pain.

   Like wretches, that have linger’d long,
   We’ll snatch the strongest cordial of our love. Dryden.

   Better to rush at once to shades below,
   Than linger life away, and nourish woe. Alexander Pope, Odyssey.

   2. To hesitate; to be in suspense.

   Perhaps thou ling’rest, in deep thoughts detain’d
   Of th’ enterprize so hazardous and high. Paradise Reg.

   3. To remain long. In an ill sense.

   Let order die,
   And let this world no longer be a stage
   To feed contention in a ling’ring act. William Shakespeare, Henry IV.

   Ye breth’ren of the lyre, and tuneful voice,
   Lament his lot; but at your own rejoice.
   Now live secure, and linger out your days;
   The gods are pleas’d alone with Purcel’s lays. Dryden.

   Your very fear of death shall make ye try
   To catch the shade of immortality;
   Wishing on earth to linger, and to save
   Part of its prey from the devouring grave. Matthew Prior.

   4. To remain long without any action or determination.

   We have lingered about a match between Anne Page and my cousin Slender, and this day we shall have our answer. William Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor.

   5. To wait long in expectation or uncertainty.

   I must sollicit
   All his concerns as mine:
   And if my eyes have pow’r, he should not sue
   In vain, nor linger with a long delay. John Dryden, Cleomenes.

   6. To be long in producing effect.

   She doth think, she has strange ling’ring poisons. William Shakespeare.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Lingeradjective

   to delay; to loiter; to remain or wait long; to be slow or reluctant in parting or moving; to be slow in deciding; to be in suspense; to hesitate

2. Lingerverb

   to protract; to draw out

3. Lingerverb

   to spend or pass in a lingering manner; -- with out; as, to linger out one's days on a sick bed

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Linger

   "Linger" is a song composed by Irish musicians Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan of the rock band The Cranberries, released in 1993. The song, which has an acoustic arrangement featuring a string section, became the band's first major hit, peaking at #3 in the Republic of Ireland, #8 in the United States and #14 in the UK. In the documentary '99 Love Life & Rock 'n' Roll, O'Riordan says that the song is about her first serious kiss. "Linger" was listed as #86 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Linger

   ling′gėr, v.i. to remain long in any state: to loiter.—v.t. (Shak.) to prolong, protract: (with out) to pass in a tedious manner.—n. Ling′erer.—adj. Ling′ering, protracted.—n. a remaining long.—advs. Ling′eringly; Ling′erly (rare). [A.S. lengan, to protract—lang, long.]

Matched Categories

1. • Hesitate
   • Leave
   • Move
   • Stay

Anagrams for linger »

1. ringle

How to pronounce linger?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say linger in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of linger in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of linger in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of linger in a Sentence

1. Henry David Thoreau:

   We seem but to linger in manhood to tell the dreams of our childhood, and they vanish out of memory ere we learn the language.

2. Constanze Stelzenmueller:

   She’s used to awkward meetings, she’s handled them quite well. You don’t linger over the personal.

3. Francesca Knittel Bowyer:

   Mummy had the fragility of an orchid, the energy of a hummingbird, the tenacity of a hunter. She could change calm waters into a raging storm with a look and the lift of a finger, my heart is a hole without her, but that hole will definitely be filled with incredible memories, sweet, salty and funny. I want her memory to linger with those who knew her and be given to those who did not.

4. Thomas Filingeri:

   Facts and truth go hand in hand, propaganda just makes people angry without knowing the truth. Propaganda is like blowing smoke in the face, it pisses you off, but then it's gone, facts linger and sooner or later you'll have to face them.

5. Ohio Gov. John Kasich:

   Because to allow this to linger, to put this off, to think that somehow this is going to go away is naive at best. i believe that sometimes friends will disagree -- or, I wouldn't say Russia's our friend, but I would say interested parties can disagree.

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