adjective | adverb | noun | verb
longlong1 /lɔŋ/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective 1
GREAT LENGTH/DISTANCE measuring a great length or distance, or a greater length or distance than usual, from one end to the other OPP short: She has long hair. There was a long line at the security check. He stretched out his long legs. We should leave now because it is a long drive home. Springfield is a long way from Chicago.2LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME continuing for a large amount of time, or for a larger amount of time than usual OPP short: The meeting was too long. He is recovering after a long illness. She has been gone a long time. Writing a novel takes a long time. It took me the longest time to figure out how to open the windows (=it took me a very long time). I can’t wait for the days to start getting longer.THESAURUSlengthy formal – long, and often lasting for longer than you want or expect: Drivers can expect lengthy delays on all roads out of the city.long-running – continuing for a long time. Used especially about arguments, battles, events, or performances: He has been involved in a long-running dispute with his neighbor.lasting – strong enough or good enough to continue for a long time: They formed a lasting friendship when they were in college.prolonged – continuing for a long time, especially longer than expected, or in a way that makes a situation worse: He returned to work after a prolonged absence.protracted formal – continuing for a long time, especially an unusually long time: The divorced couple became involved in a protracted battle for custody of their children.extended – continuing for a long time. Used especially about visits, trips, vacations, etc. that last longer than was planned: He took an extended break from work after his father died.long-winded – continuing for too long. Used about speeches, answers, explanations, etc.: He gave a very long-winded answer to a simple question.enduring – continuing for a long time. Used especially about memories, influences, or feelings: The early loss of his mother had an enduring effect on him.interminable formal – very long and boring: The time on the bus to camp seemed interminable.3A PARTICULAR LENGTH/DISTANCE/TIME used for describing or asking about a particular length, distance, or period of time: The rope is not quite long enough. How long is the movie? The sofa is six feet long.4WORDS/LETTERS/PAGES containing a lot of words, letters, items, or pages OPP short: “War and Peace” is a long novel. In Thailand it is common for people to have long last names.5TIRING/BORING informal seeming to continue for a longer time or distance than is usual, especially because you are bored or tired: It has been a long day.6CLOTHING long dresses, pants, sleeves, etc. cover all of your arms or legs OPP short: The princess was wearing a long ballgown.7long hours a)if you work long hours, you work for more time than is usual: The worst thing about this job is the long hours. b)a large amount of time: He spent long hours just thinking.8a long weekend three or more days, including Saturday and Sunday, when you do not have to go to work or school9in the long run when something is finished, or at a later time: All our hard work will be worth it in the long run. → see also short1 (11)10at long last after a long period of time SYN finally: At long last, change may be coming.11(to make a) long story short spoken said when you want to finish a story quickly: To make a long story short, I didn’t get the job.12it’s a long story spoken used for saying that something will take a long time to explain: It’s a long story – I’ll tell you later.13long time, no see spoken used to say hello when you have not seen someone for a long time14long odds if there are long odds against something happening, it is very unlikely that it will happen15take the long view (of something) to think about the effect that something will have in the future rather than what happens now16have come a long way to have developed or changed a lot: Psychiatry has come a long way since the 1920s.17be a long way from (doing) something to be very different from what is true or very different from a particular level of development: We’re still a long way from making a decision.18go a long way toward doing something to help greatly in achieving something: Your contributions will go a long way toward helping children in need.19a long face an expression on someone’s face that shows that he or she is unhappy or worried20not long for this world likely to die or stop existing soon: The old corner drugstore is not long for this world.21a long memory an ability to remember things that happened a long time ago22the long arm of something written the power and influence of someone or something in authority, especially the power to catch and punish someone: He won’t escape the long arm of the law.23be long on something to have a lot of a particular quality or feature: The candidate is long on promises and short on action.24long in the tooth informal too old: She’s a little long in the tooth to be wearing miniskirts.25VOWEL eng. lang. arts a long vowel in a word is pronounced for a longer time than a short vowel with the same sound, or it is pronounced as part of a diphthong26BALL in sports, a long ball is one that travels a long distance[Origin: Old English long, lang] → see also as long as your arm at arm1 (12), a long/short haul at haul2 (2), a little (of something) goes a long way at little2 (4), long shot, a hard/good/close/long etc. look (at something) at look2 (2), in the long/short/near etc. term at term1 (7), have a (long) way to go at way1 (32) adjective | adverb | noun | verb
longlong2 ●●● S1 W1 adverb 1for a long time: I haven’t been waiting long. The peaceful atmosphere didn’t last long. It didn’t take him long to solve the problem.2used for asking and talking about particular amounts of time: How long were they here? It took me longer to finish than I thought. We’ll stay as long as you want.3much earlier or later than a particular point in time: We met again long after she had gotten married. My grandfather died long before I was born. Life was different long ago. It wasn’t long before everyone was laughing again (=a short time later everyone was laughing again).4all day/year/summer etc. long during all of the day, year, etc.5as/so long as a)used to say that one thing can happen or be true only if another thing happens or is true: You can go as long as you’re home for dinner. b)used to say one thing can continue happening for the same amount of time that another thing is happening or is true: Pam stayed awake as long as she could. c)used to say that because one thing is true, something else can or should happen or be true: As long as you’re just sitting there, come help me with the groceries.6no longer (also not any longer) formal used when something used to happen or exist in the past but does not happen or exist now: The company is no longer in business.7so long spoken goodbye8somebody/something won’t be long spoken used to say that someone or something will be ready, will be back, will happen, etc. soon: Wait here. I won’t be long. Dinner won’t be long – we’ll eat in five minutes.9long since if something has long since happened, it happened a long time ago: I’ve long since stopped caring about him.10long live somebody/something used to show support for a person, idea, principle, or nation: Long live the King! adjective | adverb | noun | verb
longlong3 ●●● noun 1for long [usually in questions or negatives] for a long time: Have you known the Garretts for very long? She’s smiling now, but not for long (=she’ll soon stop).2before long soon: The school year will be over before long.3the long and (the) short of it the most important part or main idea of something: The long and the short of it is, he doesn’t work hard enough.4used in the sizes of clothing for men who are taller than average: 38/42/44 etc. long I think Jim wears a 44 long. adjective | adverb | noun | verb
longlong4 ●●○ verb [intransitive] formal to want something very much, especially when it seems unlikely to happen soon: long for We longed for a bed after several days of camping.long to do/have something Kyoto is a city I have always longed to visit.► see thesaurus at want1—longed-for adjective [only before noun] → see also longing, longingly- first-generation
- first-hand
- first lady
- first law of thermodynamics
- first lieutenant
- firstly
- first mate
- first name
- first offender
- first officer
- first-person
- first person
- first postulate of special relativity
- first quarter moon
- first-rate
- first responder
- first-string
- first-time buyer
- First World
- first-world
- First World War
- fiscal
- fiscally
- fiscal policy
- fiscal year