Linger vs. Remain — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Linger and Remain
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Compare with Definitions
Linger
To stay in a place or be slow in leaving it, often out of reluctance
Friends lingered at the picnic tables, chatting. ].
Remain
To continue in the same state or condition
These matters remain in doubt.
Linger
(intransitive) To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so.
Remain
To continue to be in the same place; stay or stay behind
We are remaining at home.
Linger
(intransitive) To remain alive or existent although still proceeding toward death or extinction; to die gradually.
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Remain
To be left after the removal, loss, passage, or destruction of others
Only a few trees remained after the storm. ].
Linger
To consider or contemplate for a period of time; to engage in analytic thinking or discussion.
Remain
That which is left; relic; remainder.
Linger
To delay; to loiter; to remain or wait long; to be slow or reluctant in parting or moving; to be slow in deciding; to be in suspense; to hesitate.
Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind.
Perhaps thou linger'st, in deep thoughts detained.
Remain
(in the plural) That which is left of a human being after the life is gone; relics; a dead body.
Linger
To protract; to draw out.
She lingers my desires.
Remain
Posthumous works or productions, especially literary works.
Linger
To spend or pass in a lingering manner; - with out; as, to linger out one's days on a sick bed.
Remain
(obsolete) State of remaining; stay.
Linger
Remain present although waning or gradually dying;
Her perfume lingered on
Remain
To stay after others or other parts have been removed or otherwise disappeared.
After three rounds of interviews, only 5 candidates remained.
I like to make more than enough food if I have people round for dinner, so I can eat my way through what remains in the following days.
Linger
Be about;
The high school students like to loiter in the Central Square
Who is this man that is hanging around the department?
Remain
(mathematics) To be left after a number or quantity has been subtracted or cut off; to be left as not included or comprised.
If you divide 20 apples between three people, each gets six and two remain.
Linger
Leave slowly and hesitantly
Remain
To continue unchanged in place, form, or condition, or undiminished in quantity; to abide; to stay; to endure; to last.
Linger
Take one's time; proceed slowly
Remain
To await; to be left to.
Linger
Move to and fro;
The shy student lingered in the corner
Remain
(copulative) To continue in a state of being.
There was no food in the house, so I had to remain hungry.
The light remained red for two full minutes.
Remain
To stay behind while others withdraw; to be left after others have been removed or destroyed; to be left after a number or quantity has been subtracted or cut off; to be left as not included or comprised.
Gather up the fragments that remain.
Of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
That . . . remains to be proved.
Remain
To continue unchanged in place, form, or condition, or undiminished in quantity; to abide; to stay; to endure; to last.
Remain a widow at thy father's house.
Childless thou art; childless remain.
Remain
To await; to be left to.
The easier conquest now remains thee.
Remain
State of remaining; stay.
Which often, since my here remain in England,I 've seen him do.
Remain
That which is left; relic; remainder; - chiefly in the plural.
When this remain of horror has entirely subsided.
Remain
That which is left of a human being after the life is gone; relics; a dead body.
Old warriors whose adored remainsIn weeping vaults her hallowed earth contains!
Remain
The posthumous works or productions, esp. literary works, of one who is dead; as, Cecil's
Remain
Stay the same; remain in a certain state;
The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry it
Rest assured
Stay alone
He remained unmoved by her tears
The bad weather continued for another week
Remain
Continue in a place, position, or situation;
After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser
Stay with me, please
Despite student protests, he remained Dean for another year
She continued as deputy mayor for another year
Remain
Be left; of persons, questions, problems, results, evidence, etc.;
There remains the question of who pulled the trigger
Carter remains the only President in recent history under whose Presidency the U.S. did not fight a war
Remain
Stay behind;
The smell stayed in the room
The hostility remained long after they made up
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