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

Derived Forms

• ˈlanguishingly, adverb
• ˈlanguishment, noun
• ˈlanguishing, adjective

Other Words From

• lan·guish·er noun

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

"Due to unregulated sampling methods by musicians, AI will enable recording company moguls in the West to make colossal sums of money while leaving some creatives in African villages to languish in abject poverty."

From BBC

Maybe it was languishing at the back of a Silver Lake dad’s closet.

From Los Angeles Times

While languishing in League One, Sheeran and many other Ipswich fans must have wondered whether they would ever see their team play in the Premier League again.

From BBC

When we arrived at the family home, a few days after the deluge, it was languishing in a sea of destruction.

From BBC

But he could languish the way Hernández and others did a year ago and end up with a short deal with a high average annual value.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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