long 1 of 4

long

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adverb

long

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noun

long

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word long distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of long are hanker, hunger, pine, thirst, and yearn. While all these words 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

When would hanker be a good substitute for long?

Although the words hanker and long have much in common, hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire.

always hankering for money

How are the words hunger and thirst related as synonyms of long?

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

hungered for a business of his own
thirsted for power

When can pine be used instead of long?

The meanings of pine and long largely overlap; however, pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible.

pined for a lost love

When is it sensible to use yearn instead of long?

The words yearn and long are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing.

yearned for a stage career

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of long
Adjective
The second-longest government shutdown lasted 35 days, from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019. Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 The Jets and their daffy owner, Woody Johnson, have a long history of dysfunction. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
Adverb
Before Dred Scott The role of the Supreme Court in legitimizing slavery and embedding the narrative of racial hierarchy in the legal system long predated Dred Scott and continued long afterward. Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025 Analysts have long said not every major streamer will be able to survive, and consolidation is just one way that can happen. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
Released in 2002, Real Women Have Curves starred a then-teenage Ferrera as Ana, a young Los Angeles woman who aspires to go to college, but whose mother (the late Lupe Ontiveros) longs for her daughter to stay home and lead a traditional life abiding by cultural standards. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025 There were handoffs on third-and-longs. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
Police did not say who long the two children had been missing for or how long but took the opportunity to credit the search team who were able to find the kids deep within the thick forest. Jon Haworth, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2025 The mission behind Alebrije, according to Victoria, is to offer a corner of Mexico in Nashville, where good, affordable food evokes nostalgia and warmth, especially for older generations who long for the flavors of their childhood and the comfort of their grandmother’s kitchen. Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for long
Recent Examples of Synonyms for long
Adjective
  • The elongated blending stick works great in deep pots and tall containers.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
  • At the front of its elongated hood, the face of the Vision Iconic wears a plus-sized grille that pays homage to the large grilles in the company’s history.
    Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Nonetheless, the suits could prove costly and lengthy—potentially having a material impact on the company’s bottom line.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
  • There have been lengthy shutdowns before, including several others that stretched on for more than two weeks.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Adverb
  • In the Garden Peppers grow perennially in Zones 9 and above.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Since 2020, the Bills, along with another Kansas City challenger, the Baltimore Ravens, perennially found themselves under Kansas City’s thumb.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • One way to mess with an option team’s Plan A is to not only stick them with third-and-forevers, but to put them in an early hole, making them throw out of desperation.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2019
  • Printed with thermochromic ink, the stamp reveals a second image of the moon when a finger is pressed to it, and a sheet of 16 Forever stamps features a map of the eclipse path.
    Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2017
Verb
  • The 34-mile road winds through several ecosystems from cove hardwood to northern hardwood to pine oak to spruce fir.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Parts read like a narrative, other parts sound like a letter to the husband, sometimes explanatory, sometimes apologetic, sometimes pining.
    The Know, Denver Post, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • My grandmother, on the other hand, lived for another 25 years after her husband died—which meant my relationship with her extended well into my 30s.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The trailer also offers an extended look at fan-favorite character Tyson (Daniel Diemer), a cyclops, and a brief glimpse of Tamara Smart as Thalia.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The tall high-rise buildings not demolished in Gaza City are seen in the far distance.
    Daniel Estrin, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The transit tax earned some of its biggest gains from the central city and NoDa area, which has access to an active line, and one precinct on the far north end of the county around Davidson, which is anticipating access to a line.
    Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2025
Adverb
  • For Native people, the war marked a dangerous fork in the road, stirring famine, spurring a massive refugee crisis, and permanently shifting the balance of power in the heart of the continent.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • World leaders come to the White House for Oval Office sit-downs almost every week; negotiations over tariffs are permanently front and center.
    Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 7 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Long.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/long. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

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