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Glite Dictionary
to linger over

to linger over

4 4.6
To spend extra time on something because you enjoy it or do not want to stop
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : disfrutar de
  • On weekends, I like to linger over my coffee while reading the newspaper.

These are designed to be lingered over and and thought through.

Examples

  • Dessert had been served, and the guests were lingering over coffee.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • The next morning, he lingered over breakfast, picking at his plate.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • I washed my face, then lingered over my reflection in the mirror.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • One morning, Frank lingered over cereal, reluctant to leave the flat.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Blaise, the attractive widow he planned to marry come the fall, was lingering over coffee.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Outside, people were lingering over drinks at the tables on the sidewalk.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Roy and Myra linger over wine, near the end of their meal.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Darkness seemed never to come: he lingered over coffee until the waitresses began to mutter in the corner.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • In flea markets, too, my mother often lingers over an old, rusted bell or a beat-up wooden foot warmer.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • After finishing their meal, they decided to linger over dessert and enjoy each other's company.

Synonyms

to linger
vsto linger over
207 3.7

To stay in a place longer than expected because you do not want to leave

focus on spending extra time on an activity from enjoyment not physical staying
to linger on
vsto linger over
8 4.5

Spend too much time thinking or talking about something

spend extra time because of enjoyment or not wanting to finish quickly

Antonyms

to make quick work of
  • Informal
4 3.9

Finish a task quickly and well

rush
1 4.1

Done quickly under pressure with less care than usual

How Long

to linger over
4 4.6
to go over
642 2.5

Surface Forms

linger over infinitive
lingered over past
lingered over past participle
lingering over present participle
lingers over third person singular

Morphology

linger + over

The verb 'linger' already means 'to stay longer than necessary' and the particle 'over' signals focus on an activity or object, so 'linger over' straightforwardly means to spend extra time on something. This compositional pattern (stay + over sth) is a common, predictable verb+particle construction, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Linger over gives a clear picture: linger means to stay and over suggests being above something, like leaning above a cup of coffee or a plate to enjoy it slowly. That's why it means 'to spend extra time on something'.