long-range
Americanadjective
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considering or extending into the future.
a long-range outlook; long-range plans.
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designed to cover or operate over a long distance.
long-range rockets.
adjective
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of or extending into the future
a long-range weather forecast
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(of vehicles, aircraft, etc) capable of covering great distances without refuelling
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(of weapons) made to be fired at a distant target
Etymology
Origin of long-range
First recorded in 1865–70
Explanation
Something long-range has a long reach or can be used over long distances. A long-range missile is a weapon that travels a long way before it explodes. Long-range aircraft can travel for many miles, and the long-range travel of many migratory birds spans nearly as large a distance. You can also use the adjective long-range to describe a large span of time, rather than distance: "My long-range plans include running for President when I'm in my fifties or sixties."
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.
At 34, Iryna Terekh, an architect by training, heads Fire Point, a company that has become one of the driving forces behind Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities in the war with Russia.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Over the next three decades, sea level rise pathways are relatively well constrained, making this period especially important for long-range adaptation and infrastructure planning.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026
But plans for new air defence systems and long-range weapons remain underfunded.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The UK's weather may turn a little more changeable during the second half of summer with spells of rain featuring in some long-range forecasts.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
By early June, the Germans were within forty miles of Paris, close enough to bombard the French capital with the long-range guns the Allies called Big Berthas.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
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.
