German word

verweilen

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈvaɪ̯lən/

Meaning

  • verbstay

Example

Er verweilt lange am Fenster.

He stays by the window for a long time.

Illustration for verweilen (stay)

More examples

Nach dem Essen verweilen viele Gäste noch am Tisch.

After the meal, many guests still linger at the table.

Core concept

A person remains beside a window, unhurriedly taking in the view instead of moving on.

Common phrases

  • lange verweilen

    stay for a long time

  • am Tisch verweilen

    linger at the table

Similar words

bleiben: Continue to stay in the same place.
sich aufhalten: Spend some time at a particular place.
verharren: Remain nearly still in the same position or spot.
weilen: Remain somewhere for a period of time.

Definition in German

Sich länger an einem Ort aufhalten, meist ohne Eile.

Word origin

Verweilen combines the prefix ver- with the older Germanic verb weilen, meaning to remain or spend time in a place.

Usage tips

  • Verweilen is more literary or formal than bleiben and often appears in descriptions, reflections, and cultural writing.

Other meanings

  • lingerverb

Opposites

  • abreisendepartverb
  • weiterziehenmove onverb

Related words

  • Weilewhilenoun
  • Verweildauerlength of staynoun
  • Verweilenstayingnoun

Word lists with this word