long
1 of 6adjective
ˈlȯŋ 
longer ˈlȯŋ-gər
also -ər
; longest ˈlȯŋ-gəst also -əst
1
a
: extending for a considerable distance
a long coastline
b
: having greater length than usual
a long corridor
c
: having greater height than usual : tall
d
: having a greater length than breadth : elongated
e
: having a greater length than desirable or necessary
the column is one line too long
f
: full-length
long pants
2
a
: having a specified length
six feet long
b
: forming the chief linear dimension
the long side of the room
3
a
: extending over a considerable time
a long friendship
b
: having a specified duration
two hours long
c
: prolonged beyond the usual time
a long look
d
: lasting too long : tedious
a long explanation
4
a
: containing many items in a series
a long list
b
: having a specified number of units
300 pages long
c
: consisting of a greater number or amount than usual : large
was married, and had a long family—
A. T. Quiller-Couch
A. T. Quiller-Couch5
a
of a speech sound : having a relatively long duration
b
: being the member of a pair of similarly spelled vowel or vowel-containing sounds that is descended from a vowel long in duration
long a in fate
long i in sign
c of a syllable in prosody
(1)
: of relatively extended duration
(2)
: bearing a stress or accent
a long syllable
6
: having the capacity to reach, extend, or travel a considerable distance
a long left jab
tried to hit the long ball
7
: larger or longer than the standard
a long count by the referee
8
a
: extending far into the future
the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts—H. W. Longfellow
H. W. Longfellow b
: extending beyond what is known
a long guess
c
: payable after a considerable period
a long note
9
: possessing a high degree or a great deal of something specified : strong
long on common sense
10
a
: of an unusual degree of difference between the amounts wagered on each side
long odds
b
: of or relating to the larger amount wagered
take the long end of the bet
11
: subject to great odds
take a long chance for a large reward—W. P. Webb
W. P. Webb12
: owning or accumulating securities or goods especially in anticipation of an advance in prices
they are now long on wheat
take a long position in steel
longness
ˈlȯŋ-nəs
noun long
2 of 6adverb
1
: for or during a long time
long a popular hangout
2
: at or to a long distance : far
long-traveled
3
: for the duration of a specified period
month-long
all summer long
4
: at a point of time far before or after a specified moment or event
was excited long before the big day
5
: after or beyond a specified or implied time
didn't stay longer than midnight
6
: for a considerable distance
threw the ball long
7
: in or into a long position (as on a market)
long
3 of 6noun
1
: a long period of time
2
: a long syllable
3
: one taking a long position especially in a security or commodity market
4
a
longs plural : long trousers
b
: a size in clothing for tall men
long
4 of 6verb (1)
longed; longing ˈlȯŋ-iŋ
intransitive verb
: to feel a strong desire or craving especially for something not likely to be attained
they long for peace
longing to return home
longer
ˈlȯŋ-ər
noun long
5 of 6verb (2)
longed; longing; longs
intransitive verb
archaic
: to be suitable or fitting
long
6 of 6abbreviation
longitude
Synonyms
Adjective
- elongate
- elongated
- extended
- king-size
- king-sized
- lengthy
Noun
- aeon
- eon
- age
- blue moon
- coon's age
- cycle
- donkey's years [chiefly British]
- eternity
- forever
- months
- moon
Verb (1)
- ache (for)
- covet
- crave
- desiderate
- desire
- die (for)
- hanker (for or after)
- hunger (for)
- itch (for)
- jones (for) [slang]
- lust (for or after)
- pant (after)
- pine (for)
- repine (for)
- salivate (for)
- sigh (for)
- thirst (for)
- want
- wish (for)
- yearn (for)
- yen (for)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The bridge is the longest in the world. We drove a long distance. the long side of the building The whale was 50 feet long. “How long was the race?” “The race was five miles long.” They've had a long and happy marriage. She finds it hard to sit still for long periods of time. The company has a long tradition of serving its customers well. A day is 24 hours long. The team has had a long streak of wins. Adverb The extra food she brought did not last long. They'll have to wait a bit longer. The mall has long been a popular hangout for teenagers. They have long been devoted friends. It's been so long since we've seen each other. It's been much too long since we've seen each other. That meeting was way too long. We had to leave long before we were ready to go. We talked all night long. events that occurred long before the discovery of America Noun they should be here before long See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective, Adverb, and Noun
Middle English long, lang, from Old English; akin to Old High German lang long, Latin longus
Verb (1)
Middle English, from Old English langian; akin to Old High German langēn to long, Old English lang long
Verb (2)
Middle English, from along (on) because (of)
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing long
Kids Definition
long
1 of 3 adjective ˈlȯŋ
longer ˈlȯŋ-gər ; longest ˈlȯŋ-gəst
; longest ˈlȯŋ-gəst 1
: of great extent from end to end : not short
2
a
: having a specified length
a meter long
b
: forming the chief linear dimension
the long side of the table
3
: lasting for a considerable or specified time
a long friendship
two hours long
4
: overly long or lasting too long
a long look
a long explanation
5
: containing many or a specified number of units
a long series of wins
6
: being a syllable or speech sound of relatively great duration
7
: extending far into the future
8
: strong in or well supplied with something
long on golf
long on wisdom
long
2 of 3 adverb1
: for or during a long time
long a popular hangout
2
: for the length of a specified period
all summer long
3
: at a distant point of time
long before we arrived
long
3 of 3 verb longed; longing
ˈlȯŋ-iŋ
: to feel a strong desire or wish
longing to return home
Legal Definition
long
adjective : owning or accumulating securities, goods, or commodities especially in anticipation of a rise in prices
a buyer long on wheat
compare short Biographical Definition
Long 1 of 3
biographical name (1)
ˈlȯŋ
Crawford Williamson 1815–1878 American surgeon
Long
2 of 3biographical name (2)
Hu*ey ˈhyü-ē Pierce 1893–1935 American politician
Pierce 1893–1935 American politician Long
3 of 3biographical name (3)
Stephen Harriman 1784–1864 American army officer and explorer
long 1 of 4
adjective
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
Relevance
- elongated
- elongate
- extended
- lengthy
- large
- extensive
- longish
- outstretched
- big
- oblong
- sizable
- rectangular
- king-sized
- super
- king-size
- considerable
- substantial
- far-reaching
- oversize
- hefty
- jumbo
- largish
- oversized
- biggish
- sizeable
- hulking
- overscale
- overscaled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- short
- brief
- curt
- curtailed
- abbreviated
- diminished
- shortish
- little
- small
- abridged
- minute
- tiny
- shortened
- diminutive
- wee
- miniature
- puny
- smallish
- undersized
- bitty
- undersize
- 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
- prolonged
- marathon
- protracted
- long-term
- longish
- long-drawn-out
- long-drawn
- interminable
- persistent
- long-lived
- overlong
- everlasting
- permanent
- aeonian
- aeonic
- multiyear
- multiday
- all-night
- all-day
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- short
- brief
- little
- shortish
- sudden
- mini
- abrupt
- shortened
- curtailed
- abbreviated
- condensed
- short-term
- transient
- fleeting
- short-lived
- momentary
- transitory
- ephemeral
- impermanent
- short-range
long
2 of 4adverb
as in perennially
Synonyms & Similar Words
- perennially
- forever
- permanently
- enduringly
- eternally
- ay
- evermore
- always
- perpetually
- everlastingly
- forevermore
- ever
- e'er
- indelibly
- aye
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- never
- once
- ne'er
- nevermore
long
3 of 4noun
as in forever
a long or seemingly long period of time they should be here before long Synonyms & Similar Words
- forever
- months
- eternity
- age
- cycle
- blue moon
- lifetime
- eon
- moon
- aeon
- coon's age
- donkey's years
- infinity
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- minute
- second
- moment
- instant
- shake
- jiffy
- trice
- flash
- wink
- twinkle
- twinkling
- split second
- nanosecond
- microsecond
long
4 of 4verb
as in to yearn
Synonyms & Similar Words
- yearn
- pine
- trouble
- agonize
- worry
- fear
- bother
- stress
- stew
- chafe
- fret
- despair
- sweat
- fuss
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- take
- accept
- endure
- sustain
- tolerate
- bear
- abide
- stick out
- stomach
Synonym Chooser
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
Although the words hanker and long have much in common, hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire.
always hankering for money
Both hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need.
hungered for a business of his own
thirsted for power
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
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