plural lengths
1
a
: the distance from one end of something to the other end : a measurement of how long something is
"What is its length?" [=how long is it?] "It measures 10 inches in length." [=it is 10 inches long]
We walked the entire length of the beach. [=we walked from one end of the beach to the other]
The length of the table is six feet, and its width is three feet.
These pins are available in one- and two-inch lengths.
The adult animals reach a maximum length of two meters.
b
: the size or extent of a piece of writing
Your essay should be no more than 250 words in length.
five pages in length [=five pages long]
a book-length poem [=a very long poem; a poem that has the same number of pages as some books]
c
: the quality or state of being long
Don't be put off by the book's length. [=(less commonly) lengthiness]
I was amazed by the length of the ape's arms. [=by how long the ape's arms were]
2
: the amount of time something lasts
They want to extend the length of the school year. [=to make the school year longer; to lengthen the school year]
the length of a movie
If you're in town for any length of time [=for more than just a short time], be sure to see the museum.
3
: the length of something used as a unit of measure
Our horse won the race by a length. [=by a distance equal to the length of one horse]
They were two car lengths behind us.
I managed to swim four lengths of the pool. [=to swim from one end of the pool to the other end four times]
4
: a piece of something that is long and thin or narrow
a length of pipe/chain/yarn
5
: a measure of how far down on your body something (such as your hair or a piece of clothing) reaches
the length of a skirt
a waist-length jacket [=a jacket that reaches only to your waist]
chin-length hair
Cite this Entry
“Length.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/length. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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