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
There’s a small (39 runs), inexpensive ski resort with a long season about 45 minutes south of Buffalo called Kissing Bridge. David Allan, CNN Money, 31 May 2025 What to keep, what to kill The next CEO should come to office willing to immediately eliminate badges like Chrysler, Maserati, Lancia and DS ― and take a long, hard look at Dodge and Alfa Romeo’s justifications for survival. Mark Phelan, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Adverb
One team seemed destined to be here all season long. Kelly Iko, New York Times, 1 June 2025 Both festival organizers and attendees face economic challenges While music festivals have long retained a grip on American identity, their hold might be slipping. Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
Noun
The school Ana longs to attend has disgraced itself. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025 Charity longs to be her sister’s everything, including her, well, lover. Erin Jensen, USA Today, 3 May 2025
Verb
There are no panels or professional keynotes per se but instead, Johnson has curated something that many in the DEI space have been longing for: honest conversations, global perspectives, and a community of changemakers working towards collective liberation. Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025 Collectively, all these tools start to finally deliver the kind of intelligent PC experience many of us have been longing for. Bob O'Donnell, USA Today, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for long
Recent Examples of Synonyms for long
Adjective
  • The sword consists of a short, elongated, pointed blade with a handle with antennas, made of iron, combined with spheres made of copper alloys or copper.
    Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
  • The track also featured a rumble strip on the left for Turn 14, and the apex of Turn 15 was a bit elongated, both of which should help drivers navigate the section.
    Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • The article authored by Makary and Prasad describing the FDA’s new stance on the vaccine also contain a lengthy list of risk factors and notes that about 100 million to 200 million people will fall into this category and will thus be eligible to get the vaccine.
    Libby Richards, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
  • The umpires gathered and, after a lengthy meeting, ruled Soto out for passing Nimmo.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • Songs that should blaze by are sluggish while tunes that should pine and linger are sped through.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The tusk, which is actually an elongated tooth, is mainly found in males and can grow up to 10 feet long.
    Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Chaos is a constant for the outdoor winter sport with single-elimination playoffs that relies on the bounces of an elongated sphere.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The crowd just continued to swell — a sign that the buzz over Hudson’s set was hitting the far reaches of the festival site — and the star of the hour seemed to be having the time of her life.
    Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 25 May 2025
  • Coronado’s restaurant is on the far end of the plaza.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 24 May 2025
Adverb
  • Since finding her forever home in Buckingham Palace, Orla has tagged along to several family events, from joining Kate to watch Prince William play in the Royal Charity Polo Cup in July 2022 and making a cameo in Princess Charlotte's 8th birthday portraits.
    Charmaine Patterson, People.com, 24 May 2025
  • Dog Overlooked At Adoption Event Gets Happy Ending By Alice Gibbs Senior Life and Trends Reporter Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 0 A dog that was recently overlooked at a Kentucky adoption event has found her forever home.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • But whereas the first generation of Chinese entrepreneurs grew up poor and were happy to wring a livelihood from cheap imitations, today’s tech graduates were spared the privations of their parents and yearn for something more meaningful.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 29 May 2025
  • But as time goes on, LaBeouf and his followers begin to yearn for a more ambitious project.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Madrid lost a big figure when Toni Kroos retired in 2024, and if other veteran players such as Vazquez leave, then throw Bellingham’s extended spell out into the mix and the dressing room will be a quieter place.
    Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Debutants included several plug-in hybrids and extended range electric vehicles, suggesting that Chinese manufacturers still see a long-term future for vehicles with more than just electric power.
    Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Long.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/long. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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