Synonyms of long

long 1 of 5

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 5

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 5

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 5

verb (1)

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

long (for)

5 of 5

verb (2)

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

• crave
• wish (for)
• die (for)
• want
• pine (for)
• sigh (for)
• itch (for)
• salivate (for)
• thirst (for)
• yearn (for)
• ache (for)
• jones (for)
• lust (for or after)
• repine (for)
• yen (for)
• pant (after)
• hunger (for)
• enjoy
• desire
• hanker (for or after)
• spoil (for)
• set one's heart on
• covet
• like
• love
• desiderate
• prefer
• delight (in)
• groove (on)
• revel (in)
• relish
• admire
• fancy
• value
• adore
• prize
• appreciate
• favor
• dig
• treasure
• cherish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hate
• loathe
• despise
• detest
• abhor
• refuse
• reject
• decline
• abominate
• execrate
• spurn

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

But Rodríguez Castro held court for more than five hours, evoking Fidel Castro’s long, late-night meetings. — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Neptune, our planet of spirituality and imagination, will fall asleep this week for a long retrograde cycle. — Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026

Adverb

Not long after that, FIFA announced Belgium’s appeal had failed. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Evernorth’s investment in Shields was announced not long after the company was sold to private equity firm Sycamore Partners in the $10 billion takeover of Walgreens. — Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Noun

Etna, a battle-scarred but kindhearted shepherd mix who was plucked from his home on the eve of an unspecified conflict in an unnamed country, has grown weary of war’s brutalities and longs to return to the coastal farm of his puppyhood. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026

The star power continued at City Hall, where Spike Lee, Patrick Ewing and Carmelo Anthony were among those who went from float ride-a-longs to seats at the ceremony. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 18 June 2026

Verb

Celebrated on the second Sunday in May, Mother’s Day honors mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds in all forms, from single mothers and working moms to women grieving the loss of a child and those who long to become mothers. — Ronnie Li, USA Today, 10 May 2026

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