A lingerer is a person or thing that stays in a place longer than expected or desired, often in a hesitant or reluctant manner. This individual or element tends to draw out an event, conversation, or process, prolonging its duration. Lingerers may exhibit a degree of indecisiveness, clinging to something past its natural endpoint, or exhibiting a reluctance to depart. They can impact others by causing delays, disrupting schedules, or creating a sense of unease due to their protracted presence. Their lingering may stem from nostalgia, uncertainty, or an unwillingness to face the consequences of leaving or concluding.
Linger-er meaning with examples
- The party was winding down, but a few **lingerers** remained in the kitchen, reminiscing about the good old days. They didn't want the evening to end, and their extended conversations kept the host from going to bed. Eventually, the host asked them to leave since everyone had to go to work the next day.
- After the movie ended, the group of teenagers were the **lingerers** by the exit, rehashing plot points and arguing about the ending. Their prolonged discussion caused a bottleneck, inconveniencing those trying to leave the theater. The staff had to ask them to depart so they could close the building for the night.
- A slow-moving customer in the line at the checkout was a typical **lingerer**, taking an excessive amount of time to pay, searching for change, and blocking the flow of others. Their actions caused frustration for the other shoppers waiting patiently, with the person in the line making loud annoyed statements about it.
- The smell of freshly baked bread was the ultimate **lingerer**, permeating the air long after the bakery closed. Its comforting aroma, even after a few hours, continued to draw customers from a distance, causing them to desire it even more. The delicious scent lingered, making one remember the bread.