long 1 of 5

Definition of longnext

long

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adverb

long

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noun

long

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verb (1)

long (for)

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verb (2)

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
Scary Movie released in theaters on Friday, treating fans after a long hiatus to classically raunchy, Wayans-style send-ups of films like Get Out, Sinners, and M3GAN, all of which were glimpsed in teasers and trailers leading up to the premiere. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026 The main residence carries an old-world hacienda rhythm, with open corridors, generous gathering spaces and a central kitchen and dining area made for breezes, long lunches and slow afternoons. Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Adverb
The decision to cancel the tournament in New Orleans reportedly had to do with avoiding the summer heat in Louisiana, although that's a tough justification to make given the event had long been on the calendar for June, with LIV officials certainly aware of the heat. Mark Harris, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026 Concerns over Pulte may have triggered the revolt, but long-standing worries about surveillance powers helped sustain it. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
Noun
Lürssen’s other recent launch was just a little longer (383-foot-long) than NAUSICAÄ with a completely different design aesthetic—the strikingly traditional styled Boardwalk. Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 Declan’s actress wife, Maud (Victoria Smurfit), feels desperately lonely and cast aside, and longs to return to London. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 May 2026
Verb
Set in the coziest of places — a historic, allegedly haunted New England inn — the film follows a pair of employees/ghost hunters, Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy), who long for a real-life supernatural encounter during the hotel's last weekend of operations. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for long
Recent Examples of Synonyms for long
Adjective
  • This model is designed to fit an elongated toilet and is powered by a standard GFCI outlet.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
  • The soft nude and ocean blue hues soften the elongated square shape.
    Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • California election officials have long defended the state’s timeline, noting that extensive verification procedures, widespread vote-by-mail participation, and laws allowing ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive later all contribute to a lengthier counting process.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2026
  • The bill was submitted to Congress a day after veteran naval officer Frank Garcia was sworn in as assistant secretary of state for African affairs, ending a lengthy vacancy atop the Africa bureau.
    Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 8 June 2026
Adverb
  • But Jordan, in his 20th season, has perennially been one of the NHL’s best two-way forwards — a two-time Selke Trophy finalist who plays with fire and tenacity.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 3 June 2026
  • Education perennially ranks very high in surveys of voters’ priorities.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • Miami trailed 1-0 fast, in the sixth minute, when the defense left Guilherme Biro unmarked for a downward header off a corner kick, gifting Biro the forever-history of the first goal in the new stadium.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Those tush-pushes can’t beat you if The Winter Soldier’s facing third-and-forevers.
    Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • However, thousands of years of genetic isolation have made the island pine a distinct subspecies, according to the National Park Service.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
  • The quest and pining from Villa fans to win a trophy, after recent near-misses in the semi-finals of the Conference League and then the FA Cup, has been accomplished.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 20 May 2026
Adjective
  • The German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, desperate to connect with the grandeur of antiquity and left bitterly disappointed by his visit to Rome, eventually arrived in this once-vibrant center of the extended Greek empire.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
  • During the extended break, the defense changed drastically.
    Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • Netanyahu’s far-right political allies, ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, have both called for a more aggressive military response.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 29 May 2026
  • Creating the Gerrymandering Partisan Index The GPI tracks how far seats deviate from the votes that produced them.
    Bruce Sibley, Time, 29 May 2026
Adverb
  • Craft Putt, an entertainment bar and restaurant with locations in Overland Park and Lee’s Summit, has permanently closed after three years.
    Ian Cummings, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
  • In response, Marks permanently blocked the state Tuesday from executing Lee by nitrogen.
    Abigail Brooks, NBC news, 10 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Long.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/long. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

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