oblong
Americanadjective
-
elongated, usually from the square or circular form.
-
in the form of a rectangle one of whose dimensions is greater than the other.
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of oblong
1375–1425; late Middle English oblonge < Latin oblongus rather long, equivalent to ob- ob- + longus long 1
Explanation
If you take a rectangle or a circle and stretch it out, you end up with an elongated shape called an oblong. If you stretch a circle until it becomes an oval, you've made it oblong. First consider the Latin word longus, which means "long," and the prefix "ob," which refers to some direction. It makes sense, then, that an oblong should be an elongated shape, stretched long in one direction. It can be used a noun or an adjective. If your dining room table is an oblong, you're going to need an oblong tablecloth.
Vocabulary lists containing oblong
Unit 4: Powerful Openings
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The oblong ugly vegetable with lizard-like ridges is dark green, holding secrets, grows on thin vines.
From Salon • May 9, 2026
Instead, it has an oddly shaped chunk of metal at its heart, spinning inside an oblong chamber in which the usual cycle of compression, combustion and exhaust takes place.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Built on an oblong lot overlooking Studio City, the four-bedroom home was conceived by Soriano as an all-aluminium structure for Albert Grossman, an aluminium manufacturer and contractor.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 11, 2025
The most famous visual landmark associated with Singapore is probably the Marina Bay Sands, with Moshe Safdie’s oblong, swimmable rooftop straddling three buildings.
From Slate • Mar. 28, 2025
The oblong table was pushed to the front of the room.
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
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.
