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
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)
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
longed; longing
ˈlȯŋ-iŋ 
: to feel a strong desire or craving especially for something not likely to be attained
they long for peace
longing to return home
Synonyms
Examples of long in a Sentence
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
Verb (1)
I long for the day when cancer is but a distant and unpleasant memory
Recent Examples on the Web
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
Turns out, that level of cushioning helped the shoe feel secure and comfortable for extended periods of time, whether testers were standing for hours or enjoying long walks.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 20 Dec. 2024
Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 21 Dec. 2024
Airlines are focused on maximizing revenue, and most good seats are already spoken for long before check-in closes.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Isabel Debre, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2024
Margaret, bound by her royal duties, longs for more spontaneity; Stacy wouldn’t mind being a fancy royal for a day or so.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 25 Nov. 2024
Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
Even when the job is technically complete and Brightbill takes off for the flock’s annual migration, the robot doesn’t leave the island, instead waiting and longing for his return.
—Elvia Wilk, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for long 
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.
Adjective
The longest consecutive shutdown took place under President Donald Trump when about 800,000 federal employees went without pay for 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
Turns out, that level of cushioning helped the shoe feel secure and comfortable for extended periods of time, whether testers were standing for hours or enjoying long walks.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 20 Dec. 2024
Adverb
Farming had long been in McFarland's life, according to the Arizona Farm and Ranch Museum.
—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 21 Dec. 2024
Airlines are focused on maximizing revenue, and most good seats are already spoken for long before check-in closes.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
Recommended Joy Five years after fire, a shining Notre Dame is ready to reopen its doors
Underpinning the currency appreciation is a new tax amnesty to lure Argentines to declare their hidden United States dollar savings – longs squirreled away in offshore bank accounts and under mattresses.
—Isabel Debre, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2024
Margaret, bound by her royal duties, longs for more spontaneity; Stacy wouldn’t mind being a fancy royal for a day or so.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 25 Nov. 2024
Verb
The sentence that so many Penn State fans have longed to read was now reverberating through the stadium’s sound system: The Nittany Lions are advancing in the Playoff, with a quarterfinal against Boise State next.
—Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
Even when the job is technically complete and Brightbill takes off for the flock’s annual migration, the robot doesn’t leave the island, instead waiting and longing for his return.
—Elvia Wilk, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for long
Dictionary Entries Near long
Cite this Entry
“Long.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
long
1 of 3 adjective1
: 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
Etymology
Adjective
Old English long, lang "extending a great distance"
Verb
Old English langian "to feel a strong desire for something"
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