Synonyms of long

long 1 of 4

adjective

ˈlȯŋ 

1

as in elongate

of great extent from end to end

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• short
• brief
• curt
• curtailed
• abbreviated
• diminished
• shortish
• small
• little
• abridged
• tiny
• minute
• diminutive
• miniature
• shortened
• wee
• puny
• smallish
• undersized
• 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
• prolonged
• long-term
• long-drawn-out
• protracted
• long-lived
• longish
• interminable
• persistent
• permanent
• overlong
• everlasting
• 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

adverb

as in perennially

Related Words

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

Dissimilar Words

• never
• once
• ne'er
• nevermore

long

3 of 4

noun

as in forever

a long or seemingly long period of time

they should be here before long

Synonyms & Similar Words

• forever
• months
• age
• eternity
• eon
• 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

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

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

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

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

Nick Ramsden, a farmer from Pretoria, South Africa, spent a long Thursday in July driving an eighteen-wheeler along a three-mile loop at the Nelson-King Farms, in rural Mississippi. —Boyce Upholt, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026

This is much more efficient and powerful than GaAs, which translates to longer detection range, better jamming resistance, and lower power consumption. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026

Adverb

Pick-and-drop braids were usually about three inches long, with loose waves or curls at the ends of the braids. —Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 16 Mar. 2026

The Academy Awards have long been Hollywood’s biggest night, and with that distinction comes the expectation of a certain level of pomp and circumstance on its red carpet. —Shannon Adducci, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2026

Noun

The narrator cries, rages, longs for the living body and the lively boy, and obsesses over painful details, especially the bleak journey by sea that brought the remains of his beloved friend back home. —Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026

Before long, the film will shift gears to a third main character, Madame Suman’s daughter-in-law Nat (a steely Davika Hoorne), who recently died of lung disease and longs for her still-living husband March (Witsarut Himmarat). —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026

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

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