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Hesitates vs Lingers - What's the difference?

hesitates | lingers |

As verbs the difference between hesitates and lingers

is that hesitates is third-person singular of hesitate while lingers is third-person singular of linger.

hesitates

English

Verb

(head)
  • (hesitate)

    • hesitate

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Verb

    (hesitat)
  • To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.
    • He hesitated''' whether to accept the offer or not; men often '''hesitate in forming a judgment.
    (Alexander Pope)
  • To stammer; to falter in speaking.
  • (transitive, poetic, rare) To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.
  • *
    • Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See

    Synonyms

    * deliberate * demur * doubt * falter * mammer * scruple * stammer * waver

    Derived terms

    * hesitant * hesitation

    External links

    * * *

    lingers

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (linger)

    • Anagrams

    * ----

    linger

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so.
  • * 1859 , , A Tale of Two Cities , ch. 15:
    • His tone lingered in the air, almost like the tone of a musical instrument.
  • * 1891 , , "Mrs. Manstey's View":
    • She lingered in the window.
  • * 2011 April 25, Alice Park, " Upgrading the Disaster," Time :
    • It takes into account . . . predictions of how long radioactive contaminants will linger in the soil and water near the nuclear facility.
  • To remain alive or existent although still proceeding toward death or extinction; to die gradually.
  • * 1887 , , The Woodlanders , ch. 14:
    • He lingered through the day, and died that evening as the sun went down.
  • * 1904 , , "Asmund and Signy" in The Brown Fairy Book :
    • During his absence the queen fell ill, and after lingering for some time she died.
  • (often followed by on) To consider or contemplate for a period of time; to engage in analytical thinking or discussion.
  • * 2011 April 14, Michael Scherer, " Trump's Political Reality Show: Will the Donald Really Run for President?," Time :
    • Trump doesn't linger on the poll.

    Derived terms

    * lingerer * linger on