languish
/ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪʃ/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To become weak, unhappy, or less active, often because of poor conditions, illness, or lack of care. It can also mean to wait or live in a dull, slow way.
- The plants languished in the hot weather.
- He languished in hospital for weeks.
- The town languished after the factory closed.
Adinary Nuance
Languish is weaker and slower than verbs like “suffer” or “die.” It often suggests a long, sad decline, not a sudden problem. Writers use it when something slowly loses energy, health, or success. It can also sound a little literary or formal.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tàn úa
- Spanish
- marchitarse
- Chinese
- 萎靡
- Japanese
- 衰える
- Korean
- 시들다
Etymology
Languish comes from Old French languiss-, from Latin languere, meaning “to be weak or feeble.” It entered English in the Middle Ages.
Common phrases
languish in prisonlanguish in povertylanguish for yearslanguish on the shelf
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is languish formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal and often appears in writing, news, or literature.
- What is the difference between languish and suffer?
- Suffer is broader and more direct. Languish suggests a slow, weak decline.
- Can languish be used for things, not people?
- Yes. People use it for plants, businesses, places, and ideas too.
- Is languish a common IELTS word?
- Yes, it can help in academic writing when describing decline or poor conditions.