verb

linger

LING-ger/ˈlɪŋɡər/

To stay or continue longer than expected.

A customer lingers over an empty cup while a worker stacks nearby chairs.

The last café customer remains comfortably seated over an empty cup while a worker stacks the surrounding chairs to close.

Etymology

The lengthening root, with a repeated-action suffix, came to describe tarrying or dwelling: effectively, lengthening one's stay. From this developed the sense of delaying departure or continuing longer than expected.

In context

Doctor O'Donovan0:18

however some food can Linger on longer than it should in your digestive tract

12 foods and drinks that can cause BLOATING | Doctor O'Donovan explains...

More examples

The smell of garlic lingers long after dinner.
We lingered by the door, reluctant to say goodbye.
Doubts linger even after she explains what happened.

Forms

linger · lingers · lingered · lingering

Similar words

remain: Remain means stay, without suggesting an unexpectedly long duration.
persist: Persist emphasizes continuing despite resistance or attempts to end something.