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Persist vs Linger - What's the difference?

persist | linger |

In intransitive terms the difference between persist and linger

is that persist is to continue to exist while linger is to remain alive or existent although still proceeding toward death or extinction; to die gradually.

persist

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To go on stubbornly or resolutely.
  • To repeat an utterance.
  • To continue to exist.
  • (computing) To cause to persist; make permanent.
  • * 2006 , Marco Bellinaso, ASP.NET 2.0 Website Programming
    • This would not be saved after his session terminates because we don't have an actual user identity to allow us to persist the settings.
  • * 2009 , Alistair Croll, Sean Power, Complete Web Monitoring
    • While hashtags aren't formally part of Twitter, some clients, such as Tweetdeck, will persist hashtags across replies to create a sort of message threading.

    Synonyms

    * (go on stubbornly or resolutely) persevere, see also * (continue to exist) last, remain

    Derived terms

    * persistence / persistency * persistent

    See also

    (cognate terms using -sist) * absist * assist * consist * desist * exist * insist * resist * subsist

    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