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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in perennially
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in forever
a long or seemingly long period of time
they should be here before long
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to crave
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy
I long for the day when cancer is but a distant and unpleasant memory
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Emily Chan, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Firebrand director Aïnouz is directing from a script written by long-time Yorgos Lanthimos collaborator Efthimis Filippou (The Lobster), which is inspired by Marco Bellocchio’s 1965 drama Fists in the Pocket.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Despite that, effective control over such management priorities has long rested with agriculturalists and hunters, whose interests are not always shared by the vast majority of Coloradans.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 21 Jan. 2026
Analysts at Canaccord Genuity and Bernstein have set price targets between $450 and $474, with $MSTR acting as a leveraged long – suggesting the stock could nearly triple from current levels.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for long
Adjective
A weeks-long shutdown of the internet means that receiving news out of Iran has been extremely difficult, with severe restrictions still in place.
—Emily Chan, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Firebrand director Aïnouz is directing from a script written by long-time Yorgos Lanthimos collaborator Efthimis Filippou (The Lobster), which is inspired by Marco Bellocchio’s 1965 drama Fists in the Pocket.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Now, one town in the region is looking to maintain its enduring beauty — and its global allure — by proposing a fine on locals who leave out their trash cans too long.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Despite that, effective control over such management priorities has long rested with agriculturalists and hunters, whose interests are not always shared by the vast majority of Coloradans.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
Cunanan has gone 23-for-32 on field goals in his two-year career, with a long of 54 yards.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 21 Jan. 2026
Analysts at Canaccord Genuity and Bernstein have set price targets between $450 and $474, with $MSTR acting as a leveraged long – suggesting the stock could nearly triple from current levels.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 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
See All Example Sentences for long
Recent Examples of Synonyms for long
Adjective
-
Her beauty approach was quite different at Louis Vuitton, actually, opting for a natural-toned, bang-free hairstyle with more elongated, silky curls.—
Essence,
Essence,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Malarkey created this bright manicure and focused on bringing the sides of the tips further down the nail for an even, more elongated look.—
Rebecca Norris,
InStyle,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
His films were also known for their lengthy runtimes, which stretched as long as five hours.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
-
So too do the lengthy detentions some people experience in massive detention centers.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Nursing homes are perennially understaffed at night.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
16 Feb. 2026
-
This is a perennially popular bachelorette trip destination), a visit to Puerto Rico will always exceed expectations.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Those tush-pushes can’t beat you if The Winter Soldier’s facing third-and-forevers.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
17 Jan. 2026
-
One way to mess with an option team’s Plan A is to not only stick them with third-and-forevers, but to put them in an early hole, making them throw out of desperation.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
14 Sep. 2019
Adjective
-
Later on, as some of the brightest extended objects visible with even the most primitive of telescopes, planetary nebulae are numerous and prominent in the catalogues of astronomers, with the first ones spotted way back in the 1700s.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Nerve Damage and Neurological Issues Taking high doses of zinc for extended periods can damage the nervous system.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
On the far wall, framed by a red-and-gold Gothic arch, was the Black Virgin, a doll-like wooden figure that pilgrims come to see.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
-
At an annual meeting of the Parliamentary Forum on Intelligence and Security in El Salvador in November, far-right deputy Nikolas Ferreira claimed Brazilian criminal organizations had infiltrated the government.—
Evandro Cruz Silva,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The largest single contributor is the 2025 reconciliation act, which permanently extended the individual income tax rates and business investment incentives originally established by the 2017 tax act.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Chemical relaxers—another product commonly used to style Black hair—that permanently straighten curly or kinky hair have previously been linked to higher risk of uterine cancer.—
Aude Konan,
Scientific American,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Many reactions emit energy, often in large amounts, but cosmic efficiency is another metric altogether.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Thousands of immigrants are currently being detained in large detention centers where detainees, lawyers and activists have alleged abuse and poor conditions.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Long.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/long. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
