1 C1 idiomatic formal
To extend or prolong a period of time, often tediously or sorrowfully.
"He lingered out his remaining days in the crumbling house, refusing to leave."
separable
linger out
C1 formal separable transitive
To prolong or draw out a period of time, often tediously or mournfully (archaic/literary).
In plain English
To make something go on for a very long time, often in a sad or boring way.
What does "linger out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To stretch (linger) something outward — an extension of the root meaning of 'linger' to delay or be slow.
Actually means
To make something go on for a very long time, often in a sad or boring way.
Usage tip
Archaic and literary; rarely encountered in modern speech. More likely to be found in 17th–19th century literature. ESL learners are unlikely to need this in active use.
Words that pair with "linger out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
days hours existence life suffering time
How to conjugate "linger out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
linger out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lingers out
he/she/it
Past simple
lingered out
yesterday
Past participle
lingered out
have + pp
-ing form
lingering out
continuous
Hear "linger out" in the wild
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Other ways to say "linger out"
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