languish
verb
lan·guish
ˈlaŋ-gwish 
languished; languishing; languishes
1
a
: to be or become feeble, weak, or enervated
Plants languish in the drought.
b
: to be or live in a state of depression or decreasing vitality
languished in prison for ten years
2
a
: to become dispirited
b
: to suffer neglect
the bill languished in the Senate for eight months
3
: to assume an expression of grief or emotion appealing for sympathy
languished at him through screwed-up eyes—
Edith Wharton
Edith WhartonExamples of languish in a Sentence
older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave
Recent Examples on the Web
Ahead of this weekend’s trip to Everton, West Ham are in the same place after Moyes’ departure: languishing in the lower reaches of the league with nothing to play for but pride for the remainder of the season.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Recent bills that would make daylight saving time the national year-round standard have languished in committee after being introduced in January.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025
Look at that sad, debilitated cobra languishing in his cage, regret on his brow.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
The Breuer complex languished under county ownership and was nearly demolished to make way for a new county administrative building.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
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Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Recent bills that would make daylight saving time the national year-round standard have languished in committee after being introduced in January.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025
Look at that sad, debilitated cobra languishing in his cage, regret on his brow.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
The Breuer complex languished under county ownership and was nearly demolished to make way for a new county administrative building.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for languish
Articles Related to languish
Cite this Entry
“Languish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/languish. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
languish
verb
lan·guish
ˈlaŋ-gwish
1
: to become weak or languid : waste away
languish in prison
2
: to suffer neglect
a bill languishing in the Senate
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