Languish
verb
To suffer from being forced to remain in an unpleasant place or situation.
They continued to languish in prison for their political beliefs.
verb
To become weaker or less enthusiastic.
After few months of unsuccessful job hunting, his spirit began to languish.
verb
To long for something or someone which you miss and have no access to.
He still languishes for his homeland.
verb
To take a long time to happen or be done especially because a lot of people do not care or are not trying to make things progress.
The legislation has been languishing in Congress for months.
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To suffer from being forced to remain in an unpleasant place or situation.
They continued to languish in prison for their political beliefs.
verb
To become weaker or less enthusiastic.
After few months of unsuccessful job hunting, his spirit began to languish.
verb
To long for something or someone which you miss and have no access to.
He still languishes for his homeland.
verb
To take a long time to happen or be done especially because a lot of people do not care or are not trying to make things progress.
The legislation has been languishing in Congress for months.
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Unpleasant Duration
Used when emphasizing the discomfort of staying in an unwanted situation over time.
Despite the pay raise, she continues to languish in a job she despises.
Pro Tip 2/2Forced Circumstances
Implies a lack of choice for the person suffering.
The villagers languish under the new curfew imposed by the authorities.
Pro Tip 1/2Unpleasant Duration
Used when emphasizing the discomfort of staying in an unwanted situation over time.
Despite the pay raise, she continues to languish in a job she despises.
Pro Tip 2/2Forced Circumstances
Implies a lack of choice for the person suffering.
The villagers languish under the new curfew imposed by the authorities.
Pro Tip 1/2Unpleasant Duration
Used when emphasizing the discomfort of staying in an unwanted situation over time.
Despite the pay raise, she continues to languish in a job she despises.
Pro Tip 2/2Forced Circumstances
Implies a lack of choice for the person suffering.
The villagers languish under the new curfew imposed by the authorities.
Never forget "Languish"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Why I choose humanism...
So why despair when the unexpected knocks on the horizon? It is in our nature to create anew, to be inventive and innovative, so why languish in idle expectation of a savior from above? So it is time for us Africans to take our destiny in our hands and realize we have agency in the scheme of life.
Video examples
"Where Love Is Illegal":...
They had languished there for 40 days. They were tortured in jail, and they were lashed with a whip in court. Fortunately, their case was dismissed, but the community in which they lived were not satisfied with the verdict. They waited outside the courtroom, armed with rocks intending to stone
Video examples
Why Having Fun Is the...
You know, we keep ourselves busy to the point of exhaustion, but we're also languishing. We feel a little bid dead inside. And I think we know that, on some level. I think that's part of the reason we keep ourselves so busy and distracted to begin with. But we don't know what to do about it.
Video examples
Inside the massive (and...
that agreed to these voluntary regulations, but back in Washington, this proposal has simply languished. We have an administration that would rather sell more weapons abroad with fewer restrictions, including to some of those countries accused of abusing surveillance technology.
Video examples
Michelle Obama's plea...
The difference between a broken community and a thriving one is often the healthy respect between men and women who appreciate the contributions each other makes to society. The difference between a languishing nation and one that will flourish
Video examples
Mark Pagel: How language...
we can put our ideas together and cooperate to have a prosperity that we couldn't have before we acquired it. And this is why our species has prospered around the world while the rest of the animals sit behind bars in zoos, languishing.
Video examples
Katie Mack: The death of...
The end of the universe is coming. There are a few ways it could happen, but the most likely is called the heat death, and it's an agonizing, slow languishing of the cosmos. Stars burn out and leave smoldering ash.
Video examples
Let’s Help Refugees...
than just simply helping refugees survive. We can help them thrive. We should think of refugee camps and communities as more than just temporary population centers where people languish
Video examples
The 4 a.m. mystery PIPE...
which incidentally is Judi Dench's birthday. But he didn't die on Dench's birthday. He languished until the following afternoon when he finally succumbed
Video examples
Adam Grant: How to stop...
to talk about their utter lack of excitement. And -- I think -- I think that naming languishing helped people make sense of some puzzling experiences.
Video examples
Why I choose humanism...
So why despair when the unexpected knocks on the horizon? It is in our nature to create anew, to be inventive and innovative, so why languish in idle expectation of a savior from above? So it is time for us Africans to take our destiny in our hands and realize we have agency in the scheme of life.
Video examples
"Where Love Is Illegal":...
They had languished there for 40 days. They were tortured in jail, and they were lashed with a whip in court. Fortunately, their case was dismissed, but the community in which they lived were not satisfied with the verdict. They waited outside the courtroom, armed with rocks intending to stone
Video examples
Why Having Fun Is the...
You know, we keep ourselves busy to the point of exhaustion, but we're also languishing. We feel a little bid dead inside. And I think we know that, on some level. I think that's part of the reason we keep ourselves so busy and distracted to begin with. But we don't know what to do about it.
Video examples
Inside the massive (and...
that agreed to these voluntary regulations, but back in Washington, this proposal has simply languished. We have an administration that would rather sell more weapons abroad with fewer restrictions, including to some of those countries accused of abusing surveillance technology.
Video examples
Michelle Obama's plea...
The difference between a broken community and a thriving one is often the healthy respect between men and women who appreciate the contributions each other makes to society. The difference between a languishing nation and one that will flourish
Video examples
Mark Pagel: How language...
we can put our ideas together and cooperate to have a prosperity that we couldn't have before we acquired it. And this is why our species has prospered around the world while the rest of the animals sit behind bars in zoos, languishing.
Video examples
Katie Mack: The death of...
The end of the universe is coming. There are a few ways it could happen, but the most likely is called the heat death, and it's an agonizing, slow languishing of the cosmos. Stars burn out and leave smoldering ash.
Video examples
Let’s Help Refugees...
than just simply helping refugees survive. We can help them thrive. We should think of refugee camps and communities as more than just temporary population centers where people languish
Video examples
The 4 a.m. mystery PIPE...
which incidentally is Judi Dench's birthday. But he didn't die on Dench's birthday. He languished until the following afternoon when he finally succumbed
Video examples
Adam Grant: How to stop...
to talk about their utter lack of excitement. And -- I think -- I think that naming languishing helped people make sense of some puzzling experiences.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Mary Manin Morrissey
American Celebrity
Deep down, I know that I am a child of God who has inherited divine capacities; some of them I strive to develop, others are left languishing. I also have a human side. I lose my temper, lose patience and sometimes judge others and myself.
Quote examples
Jamal Khashoggi
Saudi Arabian Author
I have left my home, my family, and my job, and I am raising my voice. To do otherwise would betray those who languish in prison. I can speak when so many cannot.
Quote examples
Nazanin Boniadi
British Actress
Although each human rights victory energizes us to continue our work, there remains a deep sorrow for those prisoners still wrongfully languishing in jail.
Quote examples
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian Leader
The main purpose of life is to live rightly, think rightly, act rightly. The soul must languish when we give all our thought to the body.
Quote examples
Robert Kennedy
American Politician
Whenever men take the law into their own hands, the loser is the law. And when the law loses, freedom languishes.
Quote examples
Kelly Asbury
American Director
I've seen animation features just languish until the right combination of things come along to keep it alive.
Quote examples
John Gay
English Poet
But his kiss was so sweet, and so closely he pressed, that I languished and pined till I granted the rest.
Quote examples
Cedric Richmond
American Politician
Leaving American disaster victims to languish is morally reprehensible and un-American.
Quote examples
Jim Norton
American Comedian
I like to keep busy, because otherwise I'd be languishing by myself.
Quote examples
Andrei Platonov
Russian Writer
I lived and languished.
Quote examples
Mary Manin Morrissey
American Celebrity
Deep down, I know that I am a child of God who has inherited divine capacities; some of them I strive to develop, others are left languishing. I also have a human side. I lose my temper, lose patience and sometimes judge others and myself.
Quote examples
Jamal Khashoggi
Saudi Arabian Author
I have left my home, my family, and my job, and I am raising my voice. To do otherwise would betray those who languish in prison. I can speak when so many cannot.
Quote examples
Nazanin Boniadi
British Actress
Although each human rights victory energizes us to continue our work, there remains a deep sorrow for those prisoners still wrongfully languishing in jail.
Quote examples
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian Leader
The main purpose of life is to live rightly, think rightly, act rightly. The soul must languish when we give all our thought to the body.
Quote examples
Robert Kennedy
American Politician
Whenever men take the law into their own hands, the loser is the law. And when the law loses, freedom languishes.
Quote examples
Kelly Asbury
American Director
I've seen animation features just languish until the right combination of things come along to keep it alive.
Quote examples
John Gay
English Poet
But his kiss was so sweet, and so closely he pressed, that I languished and pined till I granted the rest.
Quote examples
Cedric Richmond
American Politician
Leaving American disaster victims to languish is morally reprehensible and un-American.
Quote examples
Jim Norton
American Comedian
I like to keep busy, because otherwise I'd be languishing by myself.
Quote examples
Andrei Platonov
Russian Writer
I lived and languished.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension