Linger/ˈlɪŋɡər/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Attachment It often implies emotional reasons behind the reluctance to leave. She lingered at her childhood home, flooded with nostalgia. Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Exit Used when someone leaves slowly and quietly to avoid drawing attention. He lingered at the party's edge, then slipped away unnoticed. Pro Tip 3/3Negative Connotation Can suggest inconvenience or annoyance in certain contexts. Guests lingered long after the event, inconveniencing the hosts.