To linger means to stay in a place longer than necessary, often because you enjoy it or are unwilling to leave. It can also describe something, like a smell or feeling, that remains for a while before fading.
It comes from Old English “lengan,” meaning “to prolong” or “to make long,” related to “long.” Over time, it shifted from making something longer to staying around longer yourself.
“Linger” carries a quiet emotional color—it often suggests hesitation, nostalgia, or savoring a moment. When we say someone’s glance or a melody lingers, we’re really noticing how our minds hold onto experiences longer than the clock does.
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