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long

adjective
\ ˈlȯŋ How to pronounce long (audio) \
longer\ ˈlȯŋ-​gər How to pronounce longer (audio) also  -​ər \; longest\ ˈlȯŋ-​gəst How to pronounce longest (audio) also  -​əst \

Definition of long

 (Entry 1 of 9)

1a : 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
2a : having a specified length six feet long
b : forming the chief linear dimension the long side of the room
3a : 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
4a : 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 family— A. T. Quiller-Couch
5a 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
8a : 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
10a : 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 reward— W. 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
long in the tooth
: past one's best days : old She'a 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.

long

adverb

Definition of long (Entry 2 of 9)

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

noun

Definition of long (Entry 3 of 9)

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

long

verb (1)
longed; longing\ ˈlȯŋ-​iŋ How to pronounce longing (audio) \

Definition of long (Entry 4 of 9)

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

long

verb (2)
longed; longing; longs

Definition of long (Entry 5 of 9)

intransitive verb

archaic
: to be suitable or fitting

long

abbreviation

Definition of long (Entry 6 of 9)

longitude

Long

biographical name (1)
\ ˈlȯŋ How to pronounce Long (audio) \

Definition of Long (Entry 7 of 9)

Crawford Williamson 1815–1878 American surgeon

Long

biographical name (2)

Definition of Long (Entry 8 of 9)

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

Long

biographical name (3)

Definition of Long (Entry 9 of 9)

Stephen Harriman 1784–1864 American army officer and explorer
Other Words from long Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about long

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Other Words from long

Adjective

longness \ ˈlȯŋ-​nəs How to pronounce longness (audio) \ noun

Verb (1)

longer \ ˈlȯŋ-​ər How to pronounce longer (audio) \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for long

Synonyms: Adjective

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

Synonyms: Noun

aeon (or eon), age, blue moon, coon's age, cycle, donkey's years [chiefly British], eternity, forever, months, moon

Antonyms: Adjective

brief, curt, short, shortish

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Choose the Right Synonym for long

Verb (1)

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
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First Known Use of long

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

History and Etymology for long

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)

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Statistics for long

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Time Traveler for long

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

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More Definitions for long

long

adjective
How to pronounce Long (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of long

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: extending a great distance from one end to the other end : not short
: extending a specified distance : having a specified length
: lasting or continuing for a great amount of time

long

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of long (Entry 2 of 2)

: for or during a long time : for many years, days, hours, etc.
: for a specified period of time
: at a time far before or after a specified moment or event

See the full definition for long in the English Language Learners Dictionary

long

adjective
\ ˈlȯŋ How to pronounce long (audio) \
longer\ ˈlȯŋ-​gər \; longest\ ˈlȯŋ-​gəst \

Kids Definition of long

 (Entry 1 of 4)

1 : of great length from end to end : not short a long hallway
2 : lasting for some time : not brief a long friendship a long wait
3 : being more than the usual length a long book
4 : having a stated length (as in distance or time) 40 feet long an hour long
5 : of, relating to, or being one of the vowel sounds \ā, ē, ī, ō, ü\ and sometimes \ä\ and \ȯ\

long

adverb

Kids Definition of long (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : for or during a long time Were you away long?
2 : for the whole length of I slept all night long.
3 : at a distant point of time long ago

long

noun

Kids Definition of long (Entry 3 of 4)

: a long time They'll be here before long.

long

verb
longed; longing

Kids Definition of long (Entry 4 of 4)

: to wish for something very much She longed for the sound of Mama's strong and assured laughter.— Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

long

adjective

Legal Definition of long

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on long

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with long

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for long

Spanish Central: Translation of long

Nglish: Translation of long for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of long for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about long

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