lingered

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "lingered" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that remains present or in existence for an extended period of time. For example, "The smell of her perfume lingered in the air long after she had gone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On a recent Saturday evening, diners included Canberra arts luminaries, athletes from the Australian Institute of Sport and two nervous students on a first date, all of whom lingered well into the night.

The Guardian - Travel

But behind the smiles in Mr Hollande's campaign headquarters yesterday, doubts still lingered.

The Guardian - Opinion

And then, in a brief moment, Thatcher reached up to re-position a coil of hair and Jane pounced, capturing the fleeting doubt that lingered around the corners of the eyes.

The Guardian - Arts

I have lingered over spaghetti con ricci, spaghetti with sea urchins, vivid with a whole seabed of sea urchins' roes at Da Vittorio in Portopalo in Sicily (via Friuli Venezia Giulia 9, +092 578 381, davittorioristorante.com).com

The Guardian - Travel

Blume, who was a teenager in 1951 and 1952, when a series of passenger planes crashed in Elizabeth, New Jersey, over a three-month period, said that the events had "lingered in my mind ever since".

The Guardian - Books

The subject of the call has been forgotten, but the phrase lingered in the mind.

The Guardian

The tone for the day was set overnight, with manufacturing figures out of China confirming that the Chinese economy is cooling (if any doubt still lingered) as HSBC's figures are showing contraction for the third month in a row.

The Guardian - Business

I concluded some time ago now that those who regard Australia Day as Invasion Day are right; the early governors such as Lachlan Macquarie viewed their conflict with the Aboriginal people as war and the terrible, orchestrated violence against our Indigenous people lingered well into the 20th century.

The Guardian

They lingered at peak rates for six quarters in the 1991-92 downturn, says Chris Whalen of Institutional Risk Analytics.

The Economist

That sparked a furious popular backlash, prompting the exit of Syrian troops who had lingered, increasingly unwanted, to enforce peace after Lebanon's civil war of 1975-90.

The Economist

Queries lingered over ballot-counting in King County, the most populous part of the state and a Democratic stronghold.Sitting in her spacious office in Washington state's neoclassical capitol building, Mrs Gregoire admits it wasn't the best way to get going.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lingered" to create a sense of atmosphere or prolonged presence, especially when describing feelings, memories, or physical sensations.

Common error

Avoid using "linger" in the active voice when a more direct verb would be clearer. For instance, instead of saying "He lingered the meeting," say "He prolonged the meeting."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "lingered" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb "linger". It describes an action of remaining or staying longer than necessary or expected. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and provides examples demonstrating its function in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis reveals that "lingered" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb. Ludwig AI validates its usage, indicating its effectiveness in various writing scenarios. The phrase commonly appears in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts, reflecting its versatility. When choosing alternative phrases, consider "remained", "persisted", or "stayed" to convey similar meanings. Remember that "lingered" often implies a gentle or subtle continuation, adding depth and nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained

Focuses on the state of staying in a particular place or condition.

persisted

Emphasizes the continuation or endurance of something over time.

stayed

A more general term for remaining in a place.

dwelt

Implies a more prolonged or thoughtful stay.

tarried

Suggests a deliberate delay or pause.

continued

Highlights the unbroken sequence or duration of an event or condition.

stuck around

An informal way of saying someone remained in a place.

hung about

Suggests loitering or staying without a specific purpose.

waited around

Implies remaining in a place while expecting something.

prolonged

Highlights extending in duration. Differs by acting as a verb here.

FAQs

How can I use "lingered" in a sentence?

You can use "lingered" to describe something that remains or stays longer than expected, such as "The scent of roses "lingered" in the room" or "Doubts still "lingered" in his mind."

What can I say instead of "lingered"?

You can use alternatives like "remained", "persisted", or "stayed" depending on the specific context. Each of these alternatives provides a slightly different nuance.

Is it correct to say "lingered on"?

Yes, "lingered on" is a valid phrasal verb that emphasizes the continuation of something, often in a weakened state. For example, "The tradition "lingered on" for many years."

What is the difference between "lingered" and "loitered"?

"Lingered" generally implies a gentle or prolonged stay, while "loitered" suggests staying in a place without any clear purpose, sometimes with negative connotations.