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
plural -s
1
archaic
: the act or state of languishing : illness, weakness, sadness, lassitude
2
archaic
: tenderness of look or bearing : amorous pensiveness
Cite this Entry
“Languish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/languish. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.
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