long
/lɒŋ/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Measuring a great distance from end to end, or taking a great time. It can also mean more than usual in amount or length.
- She has long hair.
- We waited a long time.
- The meeting was long and tiring.
adverb
For a great time, especially in phrases like "for long" or "how long."
- I have not seen him for long.
- How long will you stay?
- They stayed up long into the night.
noun
A long time or a long distance, used mainly in informal or fixed expressions.
- It has been a long since we met.
- The road goes on for miles and miles, a real long.
Adinary Nuance
Use long for size or time that extends over a greater distance or period. It is more neutral than lengthy, which often sounds more formal or slightly negative. For time, long is the everyday choice, while prolonged sounds more formal and often suggests something unwanted. Compared with tall, long describes distance from end to end, not height.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- dài
- Spanish
- largo
- Chinese
- 长
- Japanese
- 長い
- Korean
- 긴
Etymology
Old English long, from Proto-Germanic *langaz. It has been part of English since the earliest written period.
Common phrases
long timelong distancelong waylong ago
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is "long" formal or informal?
- It is neutral and very common in both speech and writing.
- What is the difference between "long" and "lengthy"?
- Long is simpler and more natural. Lengthy is more formal and can sound slightly negative.
- Can I use "long" for time?
- Yes. You can say "a long time," "long hours," or "How long?"
- What is the opposite of "long"?
- The opposite is usually "short."