long

1 of 6

adjective

longer ˈlȯŋ-gər How to pronounce long (audio)
 also  -ər
; longest ˈlȯŋ-gəst How to pronounce long (audio)
 also  -əst
1
a
: extending for a considerable distance
a long coastline
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
was married, and had a long familyA. T. Quiller-Couch
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
a long syllable
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 thoughtsH. 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
take a long chance for a large rewardW. P. Webb
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
longness noun

long

2 of 6

adverb

1
: for or during a long time
long a popular hangout
2
: at or to a long distance : far
long-traveled
3
: for the duration of a specified period
month-long
all summer long
4
: at a point of time far before or after a specified moment or event
was excited long before the big day
5
: after or beyond a specified or implied time
didn't stay longer than midnight
6
: for a considerable distance
threw the ball long
7
: in or into a long position (as on a market)

long

3 of 6

noun

1
: a long period of time
2
: a long syllable
3
: one taking a long position especially in a security or commodity market
4
a
longs plural : long trousers
b
: a size in clothing for tall men

long

4 of 6

verb (1)

longed; longing ˈlȯŋ-iŋ How to pronounce long (audio)

intransitive verb

: to feel a strong desire or craving especially for something not likely to be attained
they long for peace
longing to return home
longer noun

long

5 of 6

verb (2)

longed; longing; longs

intransitive verb

archaic
: to be suitable or fitting

long

6 of 6

abbreviation

Phrases
long in the tooth
: past one's best days : old
She's a little long in the tooth for those kinds of antics.
not long for
: having little time left to do or enjoy something
His grandfather is not long for this world.
the long and short or the long and the short
: gist
Choose the Right Synonym for long

long, yearn, hanker, pine, hunger, thirst mean to have a strong desire for something.

long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain.

longed for some rest

yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing.

yearned for a stage career

hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire.

always hankering for money

pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible.

pined for a lost love

hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need.

hungered for a business of his own
thirsted for power

Examples of long in a Sentence

Adjective The bridge is the longest in the world. We drove a long distance. the long side of the building The whale was 50 feet long. How long was the race?” “The race was five miles long.” They've had a long and happy marriage. She finds it hard to sit still for long periods of time. The company has a long tradition of serving its customers well. A day is 24 hours long. The team has had a long streak of wins. Adverb The extra food she brought did not last long. They'll have to wait a bit longer. The mall has long been a popular hangout for teenagers. They have long been devoted friends. It's been so long since we've seen each other. It's been much too long since we've seen each other. That meeting was way too long. We had to leave long before we were ready to go. We talked all night long. events that occurred long before the discovery of America Noun they should be here before long
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
This model also comes with a tangle-free turbine tool (for removing dirt and pet hair from upholstery) and a grooming tool for pets with medium or long hair. Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 16 Mar. 2024 The United States has a long history of intervening in Haiti. John Hudson, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 There’s a very long driveway that gently ascends to a motorcourt fronting a three-car garage. James McClain, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024 This would be exacerbated if females reproduced for a longer time. Fox News, 15 Mar. 2024 If black-tie is on the invitation, stick to long gowns, like this Eliza J Embellished High/Low Chiffon Dress. Carly Totten, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 The 17 straight quarterfinal wins by SDSU is the third longest active streak in the nation for opening games of a conference tournament, trailing Gonzaga (27) and Akron (19) … SDSU’s 35 conference tournament wins since 2009 are the most nationally. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 Indiana a main stopover on the migratory path Sandhill cranes are special for a few reasons, from their looks to their behaviors to their long history. Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Mar. 2024 Many of the Academy Awards categories have long histories that stretch back nearly 100 years. Randee Dawn, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024
Adverb
They are meant to fit a standard bathtub, which is typically 60 inches long. Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2024 That’s long after many states hold their contests, including 15 states on March 5, Super Tuesday. Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2024 Horror films have long been among the most reliable profit centers for Hollywood studios, even as other categories of film — like rom-coms, raunchy comedies and even superhero flicks — cycle through ups and downs. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Nowhere was Turner’s fortitude and love of music more clear than during his first show back with Blackberry Smoke on Nov. 25, 2022 — not long after his surgery. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2024 Clips of Jason interacting with Eagles fans from various rallies and community involvement initiatives over the years can be seen in the video, which runs almost 7 minutes long. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Women in the public eye with younger partners have long been the recipient of more scrutiny compared to male stars who do the same. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak, according to NASA. USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Complex technology projects should have long planning horizons. 4. Nadezhda Kosareva, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Noun
The nation’s tiniest state — just 48 miles in one direction and 37 miles in the other — longs for recognition. Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024 Technical culture often longs for freedom from finitude. Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2024 Raised by a white mother, Ali longs to have a steadier relationship with her Black father, Davis (a soul-stirring Brandon Victor Dixon), a musician who’s frequently on the road and conveniently unable to live up to promises. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2023 Whether your heart longs for metal, alternative rock, country, techno, new-wave, punk, Latin pop and smooth-jazz, there’s something for almost every musical taste on the roster thus far. Holly Alvarado, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2024 The movie feels very of-the-moment (almost frustratingly so) in its critique of religious hypocrisy and backward gender dynamics, and yet, one longs for a little more nuance in the clownish way these bigots and blowhards are depicted. Peter Debruge, Variety, 6 Jan. 2024 In the early 2010s—the years Chayka longs for—the internet was all doge and doggos. Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2023 Made 8 of 11 field goals with a long of 45, and averaged 40.9 yards on 26 punts. Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2024 Where Capricorn craves structure, Sagittarius longs for freedom and spontaneity. Katie Mannion, Peoplemag, 12 Jan. 2024
Verb
Fish tacos are a go-to for me, especially during Lent when all those Friday fish sandwiches leave me longing for viable alternatives. The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024 While combating prostitution, the crushing influence of neighboring China, and longing for the past glory of her nation under Genghis Khan rule, Gerel was also struggling to raise her son Temuulen on her own. Annika Pham, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 What emerges is that Oglesby has spent much of her life wrestling with the shadow of her father, who disciplined his children with whipping and other abuse and left his daughter longing to be told that she was loved. Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 29 Jan. 2024 Natasha's soul longed for something more during her lowest points. Svetlana Khachiyan, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 Its fantasias are more melancholic, its themes of longing more resentful. Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2024 Are Democrats, however supposedly hellbent on dismantling gender roles and destroying the nuclear family, still longing for the heterosexual American archetype? Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2024 Offering beautiful mouthfeel, luxurious tannins, and lively acidity, its combination of red and black berry flavors leaves you longing for another sip. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 23 Jan. 2024 The other is the teenage son of a successful defector named Soyeon Lee, who longs to reunite with her child. Steve Dollar, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'long.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Adverb, and Noun

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

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Old English langian; akin to Old High German langēn to long, Old English lang long

Verb (2)

Middle English, from along (on) because (of)

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of long was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near long

Cite this Entry

“Long.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

long

1 of 3 adjective
longer ˈlȯŋ-gər How to pronounce long (audio) ; longest ˈlȯŋ-gəst How to pronounce long (audio)
1
: of great extent from end to end : not short
2
a
: having a specified length
a meter long
b
: forming the chief linear dimension
the long side of the table
3
: lasting for a considerable or specified time
a long friendship
two hours long
4
: overly long or lasting too long
a long look
a long explanation
5
: containing many or a specified number of units
a long series of wins
6
: being a syllable or speech sound of relatively great duration
7
: extending far into the future
8
: strong in or well supplied with something
long on golf
long on wisdom

long

2 of 3 adverb
1
: for or during a long time
long a popular hangout
2
: for the length of a specified period
all summer long
3
: at a distant point of time
long before we arrived

long

3 of 3 verb
longed; longing
ˈlȯŋ-iŋ
: to feel a strong desire or wish
longing to return home
Etymology

Adjective

Old English long, lang "extending a great distance"

Verb

Old English langian "to feel a strong desire for something"

Legal Definition

long

adjective
: owning or accumulating securities, goods, or commodities especially in anticipation of a rise in prices
a buyer long on wheat
compare short

Biographical Definition

Long 1 of 3

biographical name (1)

Crawford Williamson 1815–1878 American surgeon

Long

2 of 3

biographical name (2)

Hu*ey ˈhyü-ē How to pronounce Long (audio) Pierce 1893–1935 American politician

Long

3 of 3

biographical name (3)

Stephen Harriman 1784–1864 American army officer and explorer

More from Merriam-Webster on long

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