Top 25 Slang For Lingered – Meaning & Usage

Feeling lost in translation when it comes to slang for lingered? Fear not, as we’ve got you covered. Our team has scoured the depths of the ever-evolving language landscape to bring you a curated list of the most trendy and up-to-date terms for lingering. Get ready to level up your slang game and impress your friends with this essential guide!

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1. Loitered

This term refers to lingering or hanging around in a place without any particular purpose or intention. It often implies a sense of idleness or aimlessness.

For example, “The group of teenagers loitered outside the convenience store, causing a disturbance.”
A security guard might tell someone, “You can’t loiter here, please move along.”
In a discussion about urban spaces, someone might say, “The presence of loiterers can make a neighborhood feel unsafe.”

2. Dilly-dallied

This slang term describes the act of wasting time or being indecisive, often resulting in a delay or procrastination.

For instance, “He dilly-dallied and missed the bus.”
A parent might scold their child, “Stop dilly-dallying and finish your homework.”
In a work setting, a colleague might say, “We can’t afford to dilly-dally, we need to make a decision.”

3. Tarried

To tarry means to delay or linger in a place longer than necessary. It often implies a sense of hesitation or reluctance to leave.

For example, “She tarried at the party, not wanting to say goodbye to her friends.”
A traveler might say, “I tarried at the airport, waiting for my delayed flight.”
In a historical context, someone might discuss how soldiers tarried during a battle, resulting in a loss.

4. Lollygagged

This term refers to wasting time or dawdling, often with a sense of laziness or lack of motivation.

For instance, “He lollygagged around the house instead of doing his chores.”
A teacher might scold a student, “Stop lollygagging and pay attention.”
In a conversation about productivity, someone might say, “I need to stop lollygagging and start working.”

5. Dawdled

To dawdle means to move slowly or linger without purpose. It often implies a sense of wasting time or being inattentive.

For example, “She dawdled on her way to school and arrived late.”
A parent might say to their child, “Stop dawdling and get ready for bed.”
In a discussion about efficiency, someone might say, “Dawdling can lead to missed opportunities and delays.”

6. Lingered

This word refers to staying in a place or continuing to do something for a longer period than necessary or expected. It often implies a sense of delay or hesitation.

For instance, “She lingered at the party, not wanting to leave.”
In a conversation about a vacation, someone might say, “We lingered on the beach until sunset.”
A person discussing a decision might mention, “I’m still lingering on whether to accept the job offer.”

7. Puttered

To putter means to spend time in a relaxed or leisurely manner, often engaging in unproductive or aimless activities. It implies a lack of urgency or purpose.

For example, “He puttered around the house all day, organizing his bookshelf.”
In a discussion about hobbies, someone might say, “I enjoy puttering in my garden, tending to my plants.”
Another person might mention, “I puttered around my workshop, fixing random things.”

8. Lallygagged

This slang term means to spend time aimlessly or lazily, often without any specific purpose or goal. It implies a sense of idleness or wasting time.

For instance, “They lallygagged at the park, enjoying the sunshine.”
In a conversation about productivity, someone might say, “I need to stop lallygagging and start working on my project.”
A person discussing a delay might mention, “The train lallygagged at the station, causing me to be late for work.”

9. Hovered

To hover means to stay in or near a place without moving away. It often implies a sense of being undecided or unsure about what to do.

For example, “He hovered near the entrance, waiting for his friends.”
In a discussion about a party, someone might say, “People hovered around the food table, trying different snacks.”
Another person might mention, “I hovered outside the store, debating whether to go in or not.”

10. Lurked

Lurking refers to staying hidden or remaining in the background, often observing without actively participating. It can also imply a sense of secrecy or lurking with ill intent.

For instance, “He lurked in the shadows, watching the unsuspecting pedestrians.”
In a conversation about online forums, someone might say, “I used to lurk on that website, reading but not commenting.”
A person discussing a suspicious individual might mention, “He seemed to be lurking around the neighborhood, acting suspiciously.”

11. Idled

This term refers to the act of remaining in a place without any purpose or activity. It suggests a lack of productivity or engagement.

For example, “He idled around the house all day, not doing anything productive.”
A person might say, “I was idling at the coffee shop, waiting for my friend to arrive.”
In a conversation about wasting time, someone might mention, “I tend to idle on social media for hours.”

12. Stalled

To stall means to delay or hesitate in taking action or making progress. It implies a temporary pause or interruption in movement or progress.

For instance, “The project has been stalled due to budget constraints.”
In a discussion about decision-making, someone might say, “Don’t stall, make a choice and move forward.”
A person might mention, “I often stall when it comes to starting a new task or project.”

13. Hung around

This phrase means to stay in a place for a longer period than necessary or expected. It suggests a reluctance to leave or a desire to prolong the stay.

For example, “He hung around after the party, chatting with friends.”
In a conversation about waiting, someone might say, “I hung around the airport for hours due to a delayed flight.”
A person might mention, “I enjoy hanging around the park, watching people and enjoying the scenery.”

14. Delayed

To delay means to postpone or put off an action or event. It suggests a temporary interruption or rescheduling.

For instance, “The meeting has been delayed until next week.”
In a discussion about travel, someone might say, “My flight got delayed due to bad weather.”
A person might mention, “I always delay doing my homework until the last minute.”

15. Tarry

To tarry means to stay or remain in a place longer than necessary. It implies a sense of lingering or prolonging one’s presence.

For example, “She tarried at the bookstore, browsing through the shelves.”
In a conversation about leaving, someone might say, “I can’t tarry any longer, I have to go now.”
A person might mention, “I enjoy tarrying at the beach, watching the waves and feeling the sand between my toes.”

16. Lingered about

This phrase means to stay or remain in a particular place without any specific purpose or intention. It implies a sense of aimlessness or idleness.

For example, “After the party, we lingered about in the park, enjoying the warm evening.”
In a story, a character might be described as “lingering about the train station, waiting for someone.”
A friend might invite you to “come over and linger about for a while,“come over and linger about for a while, no rush.”

17. Lingered in

This phrase refers to remaining or spending time in a specific indoor location for an extended period. It implies a sense of reluctance or unwillingness to leave.

For instance, “She lingered in her room, avoiding the chores she had to do.”
In a conversation about a restaurant, someone might say, “We lingered in the cozy café, savoring our coffee.”
A person might confess, “I often find myself lingering in bookstores, lost in the shelves.”

18. Lingered out

This phrase means to remain or stay in a place or situation until it is finished or concluded. It implies a sense of prolonging or delaying the departure.

For example, “He lingered out the meeting, hoping to catch the boss’s attention.”
In a discussion about a concert, someone might say, “We lingered out the performance, not wanting it to end.”
A person might admit, “I always linger out family gatherings, enjoying the company and conversation.”

19. Lingered near

This phrase refers to staying or remaining in close proximity to a particular location or person. It implies a sense of lingering or waiting for something to happen.

For instance, “He lingered near the entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of the celebrity.”
In a conversation about a party, someone might say, “I lingered near the food table, sampling all the delicious appetizers.”
A friend might ask, “Can you linger near the door and let me know when they arrive?”

20. Dallied

This word means to spend time aimlessly or idly, often in a way that is perceived as not productive or efficient. It implies a sense of leisure or procrastination.

For example, “Instead of studying, she dallied on social media for hours.”
In a discussion about work, someone might say, “He’s always dallied around, never really focused on the task at hand.”
A person might confess, “I tend to dallied in the morning, taking my time to get ready for the day.”

21. Hesitated

This term refers to a brief delay or pause before taking action or making a decision. It implies a moment of uncertainty or indecision.

For example, “She hesitated before answering the question.”
In a discussion about taking risks, someone might say, “Don’t hesitate, just go for it!”
A person might admit, “I hesitated before pressing the send button on that email.”

22. Procrastinated

To procrastinate means to postpone or delay doing something, often out of laziness or a lack of motivation. It implies putting off tasks until the last possible moment.

For instance, “He procrastinated studying for the exam until the night before.”
In a conversation about productivity, someone might say, “Stop procrastinating and start working!”
A person might confess, “I always procrastinate when it comes to doing my taxes.”

23. Lingering

When something lingers, it means it remains or stays around for a longer period than expected or desired. It implies a sense of prolonging or continuing.

For example, “There was a lingering smell of coffee in the room.”
In a discussion about memories, someone might say, “Certain images from that trip have been lingering in my mind.”
A person might comment, “The taste of the food lingers long after you’ve finished eating.”

24. Wasted time

This phrase refers to time that has been used or spent unproductively or inefficiently. It implies a sense of regret or frustration over not making the most of one’s time.

For instance, “I feel like I wasted so much time watching TV instead of studying.”
In a conversation about productivity, someone might say, “Don’t waste time on unimportant tasks.”
A person might reflect, “I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time worrying about things that didn’t matter.”

25. Lollygagging

To lollygag means to spend time aimlessly or in a lazy manner, often by lingering or dawdling. It implies a lack of focus or purpose.

For example, “Stop lollygagging and get to work!”
In a discussion about efficiency, someone might say, “Lollygagging only leads to wasted time.”
A person might admit, “I tend to lollygag when I have a lot of tasks to do.”