Synonyms of long

long 1 of 4

adjective

ˈlȯŋ 

1

as in elongated

of great extent from end to end

giraffes have long necks to help them reach leaves on tall trees

Synonyms & Similar Words

• elongated
• elongate
• extended
• lengthy
• large
• extensive
• outstretched
• longish
• oblong
• big
• sizable
• rectangular
• king-sized
• far-reaching
• king-size
• oversized
• sizeable
• considerable
• super
• substantial
• oversize
• hefty
• jumbo
• largish
• biggish
• overscaled
• hulking
• overscale

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• short
• brief
• curt
• curtailed
• abbreviated
• diminished
• shortish
• small
• little
• abridged
• tiny
• minute
• diminutive
• miniature
• shortened
• wee
• puny
• smallish
• undersized
• undersize
• bitty
• teeny

2

as in lengthy

lasting for a considerable time

if it's boring, even a movie with a running time of 90 minutes can seem long

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lengthy
• far
• extended
• great
• endless
• marathon
• long-term
• long-drawn
• long-drawn-out
• prolonged
• protracted
• long-lived
• longish
• persistent
• interminable
• permanent
• overlong
• everlasting
• aeonic
• aeonian
• all-day
• multiyear
• multiday
• all-night

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• short
• brief
• little
• short-term
• sudden
• mini
• abrupt
• curtailed
• abbreviated
• shortish
• condensed
• short-lived
• transient
• fleeting
• momentary
• transitory
• ephemeral
• shortened
• short-range
• impermanent

long

2 of 4

noun

as in months

a long or seemingly long period of time

they should be here before long

Synonyms & Similar Words

• months
• forever
• age
• eternity
• eon
• aeon
• moon
• cycle
• blue moon
• donkey's years
• coon's age
• lifetime
• infinity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minute
• second
• moment
• instant
• split second
• flash
• shake
• wink
• twinkle
• jiffy
• trice
• twinkling
• nanosecond
• microsecond

long

3 of 4

adverb

as in perennially

Related Words

• perennially
• forever
• permanently
• enduringly
• eternally
• ay
• everlastingly
• always
• perpetually
• indelibly
• ever
• evermore
• aye
• forevermore
• e'er

Dissimilar Words

• never
• once
• ne'er
• nevermore

long

4 of 4

verb

as in to pine

Related Words

• pine
• yearn
• worry
• fear
• trouble
• agonize
• bother
• stress
• despair
• chafe
• fret
• sweat
• stew
• fuss

Dissimilar Words

• accept
• take
• endure
• sustain
• tolerate
• bear
• abide
• stick out
• stomach

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

Recent Examples of long

Adjective

Kove's character John Kreese has long been a villain in the Karate Kid cineverse, appearing in three films, as well as more recently on the Netflix reboot series Cobra Kai. —Lauren Huff Published, EW.com, 25 June 2025

And with its proximity to the Southwest, Colorado has a few of its own traditions for the patriotic holiday, including green and red chile, corn, beans and tortillas — foods eaten in Hispanic communities long before there was a Colorado or a Fourth of July. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 25 June 2025

Noun

His first major market was former merchants and colonial administrators who longed for a souvenir of their time in Brazil. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2025

Isabel Allende: The beloved author left Chile at a time of great turmoil and has longed for the nation of her youth ever since. —Lulu Garcia-Navarro, New York Times, 31 May 2025

Adverb

Israel is currently fighting the longest war in its history as the country marks 20 months of its ground operation in Gaza. —Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2025

The series win against the Padres was also a credit to Roberts’ ability, and willingness, to play the long game. —Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025

Verb

And Haley Joel Osment is just terrific as the android who, like Pinocchio before him, longs to be a real boy. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025

But with cord-cutting long a fact of life and even far larger streamers struggling for mindshare, the company has been hit hard. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025

Phrases Containing long

• as long as
• at long last
• before long
• by a long shot
• long (for)
• long green
• long haul
• long in the tooth
• long suit
• so long as
• the long and short
• the long and the short