as long as
Idioms-
For the period of time that, as in You may keep the book as long as you want , that is, keep it for whatever time you wish to. [Early 1400s]
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Also, so long as . Since, because, as in Please pick up some milk as long as you are going to the store , or So long as you're here, you might as well stay for dinner .
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Also, so long as ; just so . Provided that, as in As long as you don't expect it by tomorrow, I'll make the drawing , or So long as sales are greater than returns, the company will make a profit , or You may have another cookie, just so you don't take the last one . [Early 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“One year later, the best it could hope for was holding off defeat for as long as possible.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026
“But as long as we keep the growth engine going and people are productive and they’re making new businesses, and they’re creating wealth, we really don’t have to worry.”
From MarketWatch • Jun. 23, 2026
“Still, as long as recession concerns remain low, and expectations for Fed hikes/interest rate increases remain moderate, we expect pullbacks in the S&P 500 to stay contained in the 5% to 10% range,” she added.
From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026
For as long as people have been solving math problems, the approach has been like a laser: focus intently on one problem and get as far as you can on it.
From Slate • Jun. 22, 2026
Though she had been around for as long as I had been at St. Catherine’s, she still seemed to get excited with each new class.
From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
