# linger

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈlɪŋɡɚ/ · frequency rank #19,382

## Definitions
1. To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so.
2. To remain alive or existent although still proceeding toward death or extinction; to die gradually.
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).

## Easily confused with
- **liver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-liver)
- **liter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-liter)
- **loner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-loner)
- **lingo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-lingo)
- **lunge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-lunge)
- **luger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-luger)
- **longer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-longer)
- **linked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-linked)
- **litter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-litter)
- **lister** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-lister)
- **longed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-longed)
- **lingua** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-lingua)
- **lunged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-lunged)
- **lodger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-lodger)
- **linker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-linker)
- **lingerie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-lingerie)
- **lingered** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/linger-vs-lingered)
- **line** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/line-vs-linger)
- **lines** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lines-vs-linger)
- **lined** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lined-vs-linger)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ilnger`, `ligner`, `linegr`, `lingerr`, `lingger`, `lingre`, `linnger`, `llinger`, `lniger`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/linger