What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
lingering
Example
She had a lingering feeling of sadness after the breakup. [lingering: adjective]
Example
He was lingering at the party, not wanting to leave. [lingering: verb]
prolonged
Example
The prolonged drought caused severe damage to the crops. [prolonged: adjective]
Example
The surgery resulted in a prolonged recovery period. [prolonged: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Prolonged is more commonly used than lingering in everyday language. Prolonged is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while lingering is less common and more specific in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between lingering and prolonged?
Both lingering and prolonged can be used in formal and informal contexts, but prolonged may be more appropriate in professional or academic settings due to its neutral tone.
