linger

/ˈlɪŋɡɚ/

//ˈlɪŋɡɚ// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"linger" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“linger” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #19,382 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#19,382
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

linger vs liver
67% similar
linger vs liter
67% similar
linger vs loner
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for linger
PropertyValue
Headwordlinger
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈlɪŋɡɚ/
Letters6
Frequency rank#19,382
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “linger” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). linger lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for linger is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlɪŋɡɚ/. Corpus data places it at rank #19,382 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for linger, with forms such as "ilnger", "ligner", and "linegr". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "liver", "liter", "loner", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English lengeren, frequentative of lengen (“to stay, dwell, tarry”), from Old English lenġan (“to lengthen, delay, extend”), from Proto-West Germanic *langijan, from Proto-Germanic *langijaną (compare West Frisian lingje (“to linger”), Dutch len… The correct English form is linger, spelled L-I-N-G-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so.
  2. 2
    To remain alive or existent although still proceeding toward death or extinction; to die gradually.
  3. 3
    To consider or contemplate for a period of time; to engage in analytic thinking or discussion.

Etymology

From Middle English lengeren, frequentative of lengen (“to stay, dwell, tarry”), from Old English lenġan (“to lengthen, delay, extend”), from Proto-West Germanic *langijan, from Proto-Germanic *langijaną (compare West Frisian lingje (“to linger”), Dutch lengen, German längen, Icelandic lengja (“to lengthen”)), related to the root of English long. Equivalent to linge or long + -er (frequentative verb suffix).

This word in other languages

permanecer(Español)s'installer(Français)herumlungern(Deutsch)ficar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ilnger,ligner,linegr,lingerr,lingger,lingre,linnger,llinger,lniger

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of linger - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ilnger2ligner2linegr2lingerr1lingger1lingre2linnger1llinger1
Edit distance from "linger"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "linger"?
"linger" is spelled L-I-N-G-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlɪŋɡɚ/.
What does "linger" mean?
As a verb, "linger" means: To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so.
What words are commonly confused with "linger"?
"linger" is commonly confused with "liver", "liter", "loner". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "linger"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "linger" is /ˈlɪŋɡɚ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "linger"?
From Middle English lengeren, frequentative of lengen (“to stay, dwell, tarry”), from Old English lenġan (“to lengthen, delay, extend”), from Proto-West Germanic *langijan, from Proto-Germanic *langijaną (compare West Frisian lingje (“to linger”),... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “linger”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is L-I-N-G-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈlɪŋɡɚ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “liver” - see the side-by-side comparison. linger vs liver
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list