lingering
lingering — adjective
1. describes something unpleasant or unwanted that continues for a long time, espec
describes something unpleasant or unwanted that continues for a long time, especially when it is slowly disappearing — for example, a doubt that stays in your mind, a smell that will not leave a room, or the effects of an illness that last after the main symptoms are gone.
A lingering sadness stayed with the Watanabe family long after the funeral was over.
attributive adjective before abstract noun: lingering sadness
The lingering smell of burnt popcorn filled the office kitchen for the rest of the afternoon.
attributive adjective before concrete noun: lingering smell
Doctors warned that the infection might have lingering effects on her lungs for years.
- persistent
more neutral or negative; often used for problems or symptoms that resist treatment
- prolonged
emphasises the duration itself rather than the slow fading
- residual
more formal; used for what remains after the main part is gone, especially in medicine or finance
文法句型
lingering + noun (doubt, smell, effects, pain, question)
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun (attributive position). The noun is typically something abstract (doubt, sadness, suspicion) or a sensory experience (smell, taste, pain).
常見錯誤
lingering — verb
1. to stay somewhere for more time than is necessary, usually because you are enjoy
to stay somewhere for more time than is necessary, usually because you are enjoying the place or you do not want to leave — for example, staying at a café long after finishing your drink because you like the atmosphere.
Diego lingered at the park bench even after the sun went down, watching the city lights come on.
intransitive + prepositional phrase 'at': lingered at [place]
The children lingered by the ice-cream stall, hoping someone would buy them a cone.
intransitive + prepositional phrase 'by': lingered by [place]
After the party ended, a few guests lingered in the garden, talking under the stars.
文法句型
linger + prepositional phrase (at, in, by, over, near)
用法筆記
Commonly followed by a prepositional phrase indicating location. The preposition choice depends on the type of place: 'at' for specific spots, 'in' for larger spaces, 'by' or 'near' for landmarks.
常見錯誤
2. if a feeling, smell, taste, sound, or memory lingers, it continues to exist for
if a feeling, smell, taste, sound, or memory lingers, it continues to exist for a long time after the thing that caused it has ended, slowly becoming weaker — for example, the smell of a candle that stays in a room hours after it was blown out.
The sweet smell of jasmine lingered in the courtyard long after the flowers were picked.
subject = smell, intransitive + prepositional phrase 'in'
A strange feeling of unease lingered in Mei-Ling's chest for days after the phone call.
subject = abstract emotion, intransitive + prepositional phrase 'in'
The last notes of the violin solo lingered in the concert hall before fading into silence.
文法句型
[sensation / emotion / smell / sound] + linger + (prepositional phrase / adverbial)
用法筆記
The subject is almost never a person — it is a sensory or emotional phenomenon (smell, taste, sound, doubt, fear, memory). This sense is the one most closely related to the adjective 'lingering'.
常見錯誤
3. to take an unnecessarily long time to do something, especially because you are a
to take an unnecessarily long time to do something, especially because you are avoiding it or do not want to start — for example, spending twenty minutes deciding what to order because you cannot make up your mind.
Olu lingered over the report for two hours, rewriting sentences that were fine the first time.
intransitive + 'over' + [task]: lingered over the report
Please do not linger on this decision — the scholarship deadline is next Friday.
intransitive + 'on' + [abstract noun]: linger on a decision
Fatima lingered over her breakfast until her train was already ten minutes late.
- procrastinate
more formal; suggests deliberately putting something off
- dawdle
less formal; often used for moving slowly rather than delaying a task
- dally
old-fashioned; suggests wasting time in a carefree way
文法句型
linger + over + [task / decision / meal]
用法筆記
Commonly paired with 'over' (lingered over a meal, a task, a decision) or 'on' (linger on a topic, question, choice). The preposition signals what is being delayed.