languish

/ˈlæŋɡwɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlæŋɡwɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlaŋ-gwish/ (ame, mw)

languish — verb

  • languishpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • languisheshe / she / it
  • languishedpast simple
  • languishing-ing form

1. to continue living or waiting in harsh conditions that you do not want and canno

1.動詞不及物C2
釋義

to continue living or waiting in harsh conditions that you do not want and cannot easily leave.

例句

Felix languished in a crowded cell for three winters without trial.

languish in + unpleasant place for a long time

After the flood, Nia languished in a damp shelter with no news.

同義詞
  • suffer

    states the pain directly, without necessarily suggesting long neglect or confinement

  • rot

    is harsher and often implies being left uselessly in prison or in one place

  • linger

    can describe remaining somewhere for a long time but does not by itself imply misery

反義詞
  • thrive

    describes living in a healthy, successful, or favorable state instead of suffering through it

文法句型

languish in + unpleasant place

languish under + harsh condition

用法筆記

Most often used when someone is trapped in prison, a camp, a hospital, or another grim setting for a long time. It commonly takes 'in' and often suggests neglect as well as suffering.

常見錯誤

❌The guards languished the prisoners for months.
✅The prisoners languished for months.
💡languish is intransitive, so the suffering person or group must be the subject.

2. to lose strength, energy, or momentum, or to stay weak and unable to move ahead.

2.動詞不及物C2
釋義

to lose strength, energy, or momentum, or to stay weak and unable to move ahead.

例句

Without rain, the bean plants languished in the school garden by July.

languish of living things becoming weak

Mert's recovery languished after he stopped doing the clinic exercises.

progress slows or stops

同義詞
  • stagnate

    focuses on progress stopping, especially in business, plans, or discussion

  • wither

    strongly suggests physical weakening or drying, especially in plants or health

  • fade

    suggests gradually becoming weaker or less noticeable, often more gently than languish

反義詞
  • flourish

    describes growing strongly or progressing well instead of weakening or staying stuck

文法句型

languish in + place or process

languish for + period

用法筆記

Used for living things, recovery, sales, and plans that should be growing, improving, or moving forward. It often implies a long stretch of lost energy rather than one sudden failure.

常見錯誤

❌The coach languished the team after the loss.
✅The team languished after the loss.
💡languish does not take a direct object; it describes the subject becoming weak or stalled.