Standard Lemma guide

lingering

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈlɪŋɡəɹɪŋ/
  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈlɪŋɡɹɪŋ/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: L IH1 NG G ER0 IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: L IH1 NG G R IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

gerund of linger: an act of loitering or waiting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

That which lingers; a remnant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

present participle and gerund of linger

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

the act of tarrying

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tarriance

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: delay, holdup

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English linger Proto-Germanic *-ungō Old English -ung Middle English -ynge English -ing English lingering From linger + -ing.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Irish: leadrán — act of lingering or waiting
  • Russian: ожидание (ožidanije) — act of lingering or waiting
  • Spanish: persistente — act of lingering or waiting
  • Spanish: prolongado — act of lingering or waiting