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Glite Dictionary
😔 To weaken 💭 To long for
to languish

to languish

32 7.2
To become weak and lose energy because of neglect or sadness
  • verb
  • /ˈlæŋɡwɪʃ/
translation icon : decaer
  • So Ukraine was languishing under these conditions, as were as were other places.
  • languish in prison
  • continue to languish
  • languished for a decade

And for a while that bill had languished without a Republican Co sponsor.

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Examples

  • And some of these kids can often languish in the system, unless a wonderful family like yours steps up for them.

    Instant Family (2018)

  • Sadat's treaty with the Israelis soon languished, resulting in a cold peace after his assassination.

    Academic text (2011)

  • "So in the end, my father will languish, who knows for how long, with no words?"

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Thus, much of Africa continued to languish, and poverty in South Asia remained widespread.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Why are a significant number of teachers left to languish professionally for periods of three or more years?

    Academic text (1991)

  • Many of the agricultural settlements would languish or go out of existence.

    Academic text (1996)

  • All the members of Tong languish in poverty.

    Darkman (1990)

  • Laurent Kabila began his rebellion in the 1960s, but it languished for decades.

    Academic text (2003)

  • America's urban secondary systems, with their flagship academic magnets and their languishing neighborhood high schools, show comparable results.

    Academic text (1992)

  • The students began to languish in their studies due to a lack of motivation and support.

Synonyms

to fade
vsto languish
531 1.2

To slowly become less visible, bright, or loud

focuses on weakening from neglect, hardship, or sorrow rather than simple visibility loss
to waste
vsto languish
143 5.1

To become thin and weak because of illness or a lack of food

also applies to emotional suffering and hardship beyond pure physical loss
to wither
vsto languish
91 4.4

To become dry and weak, as with plants or feelings

applies to loss of vitality from neglect, sorrow, or hardship rather than drying
to waste away
vsto languish
7 5.5

To become weak and thin because of sickness or not eating enough

includes causes like sorrow, hardship, or neglect, not only poor nourishment
to pine away
vsto languish
4 8.3

Become weak and thin because you miss someone or something

is used more widely for trouble caused by neglect or hardship, not only sadness

Antonyms

to thrive
241 3.2

To grow well and be successful

to flourish
116 4.1

To grow strongly and be healthy or successful

How Weak

to wither
91 4.4
to languish
32 7.2
to weaken
305 2.8
to fade
531 1.2

Surface Forms

languish infinitive
languished past
languished past participle
languishing present participle
languishes third person singular

Etymology

Languish comes from the old Latin verb languēre, which means 'to be weak' or 'faint' and is the same root as languid. So when a person or plant languishes, they lose strength or fade from neglect or sorrow.