long

¹long

adj \ˈlȯŋ\

lon·ger\ˈlȯŋ-gər also -ər\lon·gest\ˈlȯŋ-gəst also -əst\

Definition of LONG

1

a : extending for a considerable distance b : having greater length than usual <a long corridor> c : having greater height than usual : tall d : having a greater length than breadth : elongated e : having a greater length than desirable or necessary <the column is one line too long> f : full-length <long pants>

2

a : having a specified length <six feet long> b : forming the chief linear dimension <the long side of the room>

3

a : extending over a considerable time <a long friendship> b : having a specified duration <two hours long> c : prolonged beyond the usual time <a long look> d : lasting too long : tedious <a long explanation>

4

a : containing many items in a series <a long list> b : having a specified number of units <300 pages long> c : consisting of a greater number or amount than usual : large

5

a of a speech sound : having a relatively long duration b : being the member of a pair of similarly spelled vowel or vowel-containing sounds that is descended from a vowel long in duration <long a in fate> <long i in sign> c of a syllable in prosody (1) : of relatively extended duration (2) : bearing a stress or accent

6

: having the capacity to reach, extend, or travel a considerable distance <a long left jab> <tried to hit the long ball>

7

: larger or longer than the standard <a long count by the referee>

8

a : extending far into the future <the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts — H. W. Longfellow> b : extending beyond what is known <a long guess> c : payable after a considerable period <a long note>

9

: possessing a high degree or a great deal of something specified : strong <long on common sense>

10

a : of an unusual degree of difference between the amounts wagered on each side <long odds> b : of or relating to the larger amount wagered <take the long end of the bet>

11

: subject to great odds

12

: owning or accumulating securities or goods especially in anticipation of an advance in prices <they are now long on wheat> <take a long position in steel>

— long·ness \ˈlȯŋ-nəs\ noun

— long in the tooth

: past one's best days : old

— not long for

: having little time left to do or enjoy something

Examples of LONG

1. The bridge is the longest in the world.
2. We drove a long distance.
3. the long side of the building
4. The whale was 50 feet long.
5. “How long was the race?” “The race was five miles long.”
6. They've had a long and happy marriage.
7. She finds it hard to sit still for long periods of time.
8. The company has a long tradition of serving its customers well.
9. A day is 24 hours long.
10. The team has had a long streak of wins.

Origin of LONG

Middle English long, lang, from Old English; akin to Old High German lang long, Latin longus

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to LONG

Synonyms: elongate (or elongated), extended, king-size (or king-sized), lengthy

Antonyms: brief, curt, short, shortish

Related Words: extensive, far-reaching, longish, outstretched; oblong, rectangular; big, biggish, considerable, hefty, hulking, jumbo, large, largish, overscale (or overscaled), oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, super

Near Antonyms: abbreviated, abridged, curtailed, diminished, shortened; bitty, diminutive, little, miniature, minute, puny, small, smallish, teeny, tiny, undersized (also undersize), wee

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Rhymes with LONG

bong, dong, gong, prong, song, strong, thong, throng, tong, wrong