languish

[lang-gwish]

verb (used without object)

1. to be or become weak or feeble; droop; fade.

   Whether the plant thrives or languishes and dies is heavily dependent on the climate.

2. to lose vigor and vitality.

   Though she was once full of energy, her illness had caused her to languish.

3. to undergo neglect or experience prolonged inactivity; suffer hardship and distress.

   to languish in prison for ten years.

4. to be subjected to delay or disregard; be ignored.

   a petition that languished on the warden's desk for a year.

5. to pine with desire or longing.

6. to assume an expression of tender, sentimental melancholy.

noun

1. Archaic.,  the act or state of being neglected, losing vigor, or becoming weak.

2. Archaic.,  a tender, melancholy look or expression.

languish

/ ˈlæŋɡwɪʃ /

verb

1. to lose or diminish in strength or energy

2. (often foll by for) to be listless with desire; pine

3. to suffer deprivation, hardship, or neglect

   to languish in prison

4. to put on a tender, nostalgic, or melancholic expression

Other Word Forms

• languisher noun
• languishingly adverb
• languishment noun
• languishing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of languish¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Middle French languiss-, long stem of languir, from Latin languēre “to languish”; akin to laxus lax; -ish ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of languish¹

C14 languishen, from Old French languiss-, stem of languir, ultimately from Latin languēre

Example Sentences

Her speech gave a number of headline policy pledges, and said that Wales had suffered "26 years of languishing on the bottom of every league table".

From BBC

A 12-team top flight gives more counties the opportunity to win the Championship, while a six-team second tier gives more chance for promotion to those counties that often find themselves languishing.

From BBC

Journalism broke well but then languished through the frontstretch and the turn.

From Los Angeles Times

He languished there six months on the brink of death.

From Los Angeles Times

In response to the new video, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, Abdullah al-Zaghari accused Israel of seeking "to eliminate him and assassinate the leaders languishing in its prisons."

From BBC

Related Words

• deteriorate 
• dwindle 
• fail 
• faint 
• rot 
• suffer 
• weaken 
• wither