long
adjective
having considerable linear extent in space.
long
1 American
[lawng, long]
/ lɔŋ, lɒŋ /
adjective
-
longer,
comparative
-
longest
superlative
-
having considerable linear extent in space.
a long distance; a long handle.
-
having considerable duration in time.
a long conversation; a long while.
- Synonyms:
- extended, protracted
-
extending, lasting, or totaling a number of specified units.
eight miles long; eight hours long.
-
containing many items or units.
a long list.
-
requiring a considerable time to relate, read, etc..
a long story.
-
extending beyond normal or moderate limits.
a long, boring speech.
-
experienced as passing slowly, because of the difficulty, tedium, or unpleasantness involved.
long years of study.
-
reaching well into the past.
a long memory.
-
the longer of two or the longest of several.
the long way home; a brick with the long side exposed.
-
taking a long time; slow.
He's certainly long getting here.
-
forward-looking or considering all aspects; broad.
to take a long view of life.
-
intense, thorough, or critical; seriously appraising.
a long look at one's past mistakes.
-
having an ample supply or endowment of something (often followed byon ).
to be long on advice; to be long on brains.
-
having a considerable time to run, as a promissory note.
-
Chiefly Law. distant or remote in time.
a long date.
-
extending relatively far.
a man with a long reach.
-
being higher or taller than usual.
long casement windows.
-
being against great odds; unlikely.
a long chance.
-
(of beverages) mixed or diluted with a large amount of soda, seltzer, etc..
highballs, collinses, and other long drinks.
-
(of the head or skull) of more than ordinary length from front to back.
-
Phonetics.
-
lasting a relatively long time.
“Feed” has a longer sound than “feet” or “fit.”
-
belonging to a class of sounds considered as usually longer in duration than another class, as the vowel of bought as compared to that of but, and in many languages serving as a distinctive feature of phonemes, as the ah in German Bahn in contrast with the a in Bann, or the tt in Italian fatto in contrast with the t in fato (opposed to short).
-
having the sound of the English vowels in mate, meet, mite, mote, moot, and mute, historically descended from vowels that were long in duration.
-
-
Prosody. (of a syllable in quantitative verse) lasting a longer time than a short syllable.
-
Finance. holding or accumulating stocks, futures, commodities, etc., with the expectation of a rise in prices.
a long position in chemicals.
-
Gambling.
-
marked by a large difference in the numbers of the given betting ratio or in the amounts wagered.
long odds.
-
of or relating to the larger amount bet.
-
-
Ceramics. (of clay) very plastic; fat.
noun
-
a comparatively long time.
They haven't been gone for long. Will it take long?
-
something that is long.
The signal was two longs and a short.
-
a size of garment for men who are taller than average.
-
a garment, as a suit or overcoat, in this size.
The shorts and the longs are hung separately.
-
Finance. a person who accumulates or holds stocks or commodities with the expectation of a rise in prices.
-
Music. longa.
adverb
-
for or through a great extent of space or, especially, time.
a reform long advocated.
-
for or throughout a specified extent, especially of time.
How long did he stay?
-
(used elliptically in referring to the length of an absence, delay, etc.).
Will she be long?
-
throughout a specified period of time (usually used to emphasize a preceding noun).
It's been muggy all summer long.
-
at a point of time far distant from the time indicated.
long before.
idioms
-
before long, soon.
We should have news of her whereabouts before long.
-
the long and the short of, the point or gist of; substance of: Also the long and short of.
The long and the short of it is that they will be forced to sell all their holdings.
-
as long as,
-
provided that.
As long as you can come by six, I'll be here.
-
seeing that; since.
As long as you're going to the grocery anyway, buy me a pint of ice cream.
-
Also so long as. during the time that; through the period that.
As long as we were neighbors, they never invited us inside their house.
-
long
2
American
[lawng, long]
/ lɔŋ, lɒŋ /
verb (used without object)
long
3
American
[lawng, long]
/ lɔŋ, lɒŋ /
verb (used without object)
-
Archaic. to be suitable or fitting.
-
Obsolete. to be the possession; belong.
Long
4
American
[lawng, long]
/ lɔŋ, lɒŋ /
noun
-
Crawford Williamson 1815–78, U.S. surgeon.
-
Huey Pierce 1893–1935, U.S. politician: governor of Louisiana 1928–31; U.S. senator 1931–35.
-
Russell B(illiu) 1918–2003, U.S. lawyer and politician: U.S. senator 1948–87 (son of Huey Long).
-
Stephen Harriman, 1784–1864, U.S. army officer and explorer.
long.
5
American
abbreviation
long
1
British
/ lɒŋ /
adjective
-
having relatively great extent in space on a horizontal plane
-
having relatively great duration in time
-
-
(postpositive) of a specified number of units in extent or duration
three hours long
-
( in combination )
a two-foot-long line
-
-
having or consisting of a relatively large number of items or parts
a long list
-
having greater than the average or expected range
a long memory
-
being the longer or longest of alternatives
the long way to the bank
-
having more than the average or usual quantity, extent, or duration
a long match
-
seeming to occupy a greater time than is really so
she spent a long afternoon waiting in the departure lounge
-
intense or thorough (esp in the phrase a long look )
-
(of drinks) containing a large quantity of nonalcoholic beverage
-
(of a garment) reaching to the wearer's ankles
-
informal (foll by on) plentifully supplied or endowed (with)
long on good ideas
-
phonetics
-
of relatively considerable duration
-
classified as long, as distinguished from the quality of other vowels
-
(in popular usage) denoting the qualities of the five English vowels in such words as mate, mete, mite, moat, moot, and mute
-
-
from end to end; lengthwise
-
unlikely to win, happen, succeed, etc
a long chance
-
prosody
-
denoting a vowel of relatively great duration or (esp in classical verse) followed by more than one consonant
-
denoting a syllable containing such a vowel
-
(in verse that is not quantitative) carrying the emphasis or ictus
-
-
finance having or characterized by large holdings of securities or commodities in anticipation of rising prices
a long position
-
cricket (of a fielding position) near the boundary
long leg
-
informal (of people) tall and slender
-
See run
-
informal old or ageing
adverb
-
for a certain time or period
how long will it last?
-
for or during an extensive period of time
long into the next year
-
at a distant time; quite a bit of time
long before I met you
long ago
-
finance into a position with more security or commodity holdings than are required by sale contracts and therefore dependent on rising prices for profit
to go long
-
-
for or during just the length of time that
-
inasmuch as; since
-
provided that; if
-
-
not any more; formerly but not now
noun
-
a long time (esp in the phrase for long )
-
a relatively long thing, such as a signal in Morse code
-
a clothing size for tall people, esp in trousers
-
phonetics a long vowel or syllable
-
finance a person with large holdings of a security or commodity in expectation of a rise in its price; bull
-
music a note common in medieval music but now obsolete, having the time value of two breves
-
soon
-
the essential points or facts
Long
2
British
/ lɒŋ /
noun
long
3
British
/ lɒŋ /
verb
long
4
British
/ lɒŋ /
verb
long
5
British
abbreviation
long-
6
British
adverb
long
More Idioms
Synonym Usage
See yearn.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of long1
First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective longe, Old English lang, long; cognate with Dutch, German lang, Old Norse langr, Gothic langs, Latin longus; noun, adverb, derivative of the adjective
Origin of long2
First recorded before 900; Middle English longen, Old English langian “grow longer, yearn after, summon”; see long 1
Origin of long3
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English longen “to be suitable, fitting, or proper,” derivative of long “attributable (to), dependent (on),” Old English gelang “belonging (to), dependent (on)”; see origin at belong, along
Explanation
To strongly crave or desire something is to long for it. No matter how healthful your diet is, you'll still occasionally long for chocolate, cookies, and cake. The adjective long describes something that stretches over a large distance. If you're trying to avoid a prolonged visit with your crazy Aunt Martha, you might decide to take the long way to her house. The adjective long also describes something that lasts for an extended amount of time. When your Aunt Martha comes to your house, a half-hour can seem like a long, long time.
Vocabulary lists containing long
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.
See Examples For:
Smith died Wednesday after a long battle with multiple sclerosis, according to a statement from her twins, Airyn and Julian De Niro, provided to the Hollywood Reporter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2026
The supply shock is driving up steak and hamburger prices at grocery stores and restaurants to record highs—conditions that could last well into the next decade, given how long it takes to replenish a herd.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026
Researchers have long known that it helps the brain recognize experiences worth repeating.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2026
Deep into stoppage time, Ainsley Maitland-Niles drove home from long range to deny the visitors.
From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026
I continue to play, and it doesn’t take long for me to leave the basement in my mind’s eye.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Black said the tides won’t be as high as the previous record-breaking tides from two weeks ago that flooded streets from Newport Beach to Long Beach, resulting in a lower risk of coastal impacts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026
Support for Asante is part of a recently signed agreement between the Port of Long Beach and the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026
The ladies didn’t get a measure of revenge until 2006, when they released a Grammy Awards Album of the Year, Taking the Long Way.
From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2026
Long queues form at the city's borders as vehicles are stopped and checked, leaving commuters stuck in traffic for hours.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
Long ago, in a very different place and in a pair of very different eyes, he had seen that look before.
From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda
“It’s new, it’s fresh, the neighborhood is going to benefit. It’s been a total pothole disaster for so long. … Even though there are catches and hooks, it’s still worth it.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
"The ground there is cracked, and the cracks are long. That is why this area would be very dangerous if another earthquake as strong follows," he said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026
"Fungi have been ignored in climate and conservation for too long. Now is the time to change that trajectory."
From Science Daily ● Jun. 15, 2026
"Maybe financially if you want security, but you don't want to tie yourself in for that long. It's absolute madness."
From BBC ● May 6, 2026
“From when I was a baby. Ma said every time she nursed me after she ate beans, I’d toot all night long. So she started calling me Beans.”
From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm
The 3.8% net investment-income tax is an extra tax on proceeds including interest, dividends, long- and short-term capital gains, rental and royalty income.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026
However, the group warned that the conflict in Iran and neighboring countries, as well as its impact on the global economy, increase the uncertainty of its medium- and long- term forecasts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026
Working in combination, the bonds and the insurance, “help us meet our long- and short-term liabilities.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2025
The immediate plans for Ms Raywood and her two daughters are to speak with their insurance company and return to the caravan, but she said it could not be a "long- term" solution.
From BBC ● Jan. 7, 2025
Stonesnake gestured at the long- hafted axe that lay beside her sleeping furs.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
"Nvidia chips still make top-level AI work faster and easier, but they are no longer the only path," said Poe Zhao, founder of analysis publication Hello China Tech.
From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2026
The board hasn’t publicly indicated who would succeed Huang if he were no longer able to lead.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026
Nieman added: "The family has waited long enough already; they should not have to wait any longer for this."
From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026
A longer buildout could have the added benefit of easing credit concerns and smoothing out imbalances between supply and demand, Byrd added.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 9, 2026
I reach my row, where a guy—whose hair is longer, prettier, and darker than mine—is folded into the window seat, reading a tattered paperback about modern Indigenous music.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
It would have been particularly difficult for those who took the longest to finish the race, she said, because temperatures climbed as the day progressed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2026
That ended a stretch of more than 240 trading sessions without such an elevated reading, the longest in at least 30 years, according to BTIG’s Jonathan Krinsky.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 8, 2026
The 30-year yield has fallen for five straight weeks, the longest losing streak since 2022.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
"It was the longest marathon ever," he said.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
I start to cry, harder than I’ve cried in the longest time and harder than I’ve ever cried in front of Zoey.
From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner
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