linger around

USAGE SUMMARY

"linger around" is a perfectly fine phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe the act of staying in one place for a long amount of time when someone could be taking action to go somewhere else. For example: "The group of teenagers lingered around the park after dark, despite the warnings from their parents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Most of the comments have been pragmatic, that if the people who might be responsible linger around, it just won't go away," Hopsicker said.

The New York Times

Chipmunks were too hyperactive to linger around either device, even though I sprinkled the keyboards liberally with birdseed, which chipmunks seem to enjoy far more than birds do.

The New York Times - Arts

Some 85% of Liberians are said to be out of work; average annual income is around $200. "Many former fighters are jobless and linger around," says Mr Flomoku.

The Economist

But hopefully ad products that don't work won't be allowed to linger around as long as some of the consumer stuff in Google Labs proper.

TechCrunch

"We're planning to make sure we don't linger around too much longer," he said.

Los Angeles Times

Leprosy, a statistically "eliminated" disease from the globe, continues to linger around in its endemic countries including India.

BioMed Research International

Always linger around Sarepia Forest.

WikiHow

Don't linger around in isolated areas after evening.

WikiHow

Don't linger around to give in to your partner's emotion or list the forty things he or she did to ruin your life.

WikiHow

If you want the guy to ask for your number, then you can't linger around until you both have nothing to say, or he won't want to hang out again.

WikiHow

Other golfers linger around the first tee, making offers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "linger around" to depict a sense of aimless waiting or staying in a place longer than necessary. This can effectively create atmosphere or character development in writing.

Common error

Avoid using "linger around" when you specifically want to imply a negative or suspicious connotation. "Loiter" is more appropriate when someone's presence is unwanted or potentially unlawful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "linger around" functions as a phrasal verb, where "linger" is the verb indicating a prolonged stay and "around" acts as a particle modifying the verb's meaning. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes the action of staying in a place longer than necessary.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "linger around" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe the act of remaining in a place longer than necessary. As Ludwig AI points out, it effectively captures a sense of prolonged presence, often without a specific purpose. Predominantly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, "linger around" holds a neutral tone suitable for a broad audience. When using this phrase, be mindful of potential confusion with "loiter", which carries a more negative implication. Consider alternatives such as "hang around" or "stick around" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stick around

Focuses on remaining in a general area.

hang about

An informal way of saying "linger around".

stay nearby

Focuses on proximity rather than aimless waiting.

delay leaving

Focuses on postponing departure.

remain present

Emphasizes continuous presence, slightly more formal.

hover

Suggests staying in close proximity, often with anticipation.

dawdle

Implies slow, aimless movement.

wait idly

Highlights the inactivity of the waiting.

loiter

Suggests lingering with no purpose, possibly suspiciously.

tarry

A more formal and somewhat archaic term for lingering.

FAQs

What does "linger around" mean?

The phrase "linger around" means to stay in a place longer than necessary, typically without a specific purpose or destination.

How to use "linger around" in a sentence?

You can use "linger around" to describe someone staying in a place idly, like "The students "stuck around" after class to chat with the teacher".

What can I say instead of "linger around"?

You can use alternatives like "hang around", "stick around", or "stay nearby" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "linger around" and "loiter"?

"Linger around" generally implies a casual or aimless waiting, while "loiter" often suggests a more negative connotation, implying that someone is staying in a place with no apparent purpose and potentially causing concern or suspicion.