long 1 of 4

long

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adverb

long

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noun

long

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verb

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
Issues cited in the lawsuit include meters failing to read, meters turning off, meters failing to communicate with the system, hardware failures, software failures, long lead time for meter replacements, and failure of the data transfer file. Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025 That’s something Courtois has done for a long time, a staple of his technique. Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
Adverb
So how long is the disruption from the closure likely to last for? Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025 That approach is likely to be a nonstarter for most Democrats who have long insisted that defense and nondefense spending move in the same direction. arkansasonline.com, 9 Mar. 2025
Noun
The top level is called extended, followed by longs and shorts. Tom Schardin, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 Ecstasy is temporary, horniness is cliché: Here’s a desire that longs to consume everything in its path because what, then, is left to burn? Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
There are people who are longing for a better life. Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2025 Harrell interrupted his State of the City address at Benaroya Hall on Tuesday to tease the return of the Seattle SuperSonics, something basketball fans in the city have been longing for since the team relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for long
Recent Examples of Synonyms for long
Adjective
  • The oarfish is a mysterious deep-sea fish known for its elongated, ribbon-like body and shimmering silver scales.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Sawfish, related to rays, skates and sharks, are named for their elongated, flat snout that contains a row of teeth on each side.
    Curt Anderson, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In lieu of a lengthy appeals process, Gilmore opted for a firing squad and was executed in 1977.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The service claimed to help answer the lengthy list of questions prospective students are asked to fill out within minutes.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In the summer of 2022, Zegler told red carpet interviewers that her version of the iconic princess wouldn’t spend her days pining over a man.
    Katcy Stephan, Variety, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The father-son duo made headlines earlier this month while at a sneaker convention, with Sam — who turned 13 in February — pining over a pair of $6,000 Air Dior kicks.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Some feature high waists to elongate legs or pleats to conjure old-school élan worthy of Cary Grant.
    Charlie Teasdale, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023
  • The fragment, which was cleaved from its fecal parent with a pair of wire cutters, resembles a chunk of light-colored concrete with darker, elongate inclusions that Chin recognizes as bone.
    Karen Wright, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Adjective
  • China’s far distance ahead of the U.S. in shipbuilding capabilities along with the countries’ rocky trade relationship have provided the driving subtext throughout the probe, which was spurred on by a petition from five labor unions.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 12 Mar. 2025
  • The dog led them to a mudroom in the far end of the home, next to the kitchen.
    Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
Adverb
  • Missing you on this plane forever but will c u soon!
    Ashley Hume, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Missing you on this plane forever, but will c u soon!
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the men featured in Daughters aren’t reduced to their crimes or sentences, but are shown as fathers who have made mistakes yet still yearn to be present in their family’s lives.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • More than half of the total Sahrawi population remains stuck in refugee camps, yearning for a homeland that, by now, many young Sahrawis have never even set foot in.
    Hannah Rae Armstrong, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Even at the height of fashion inclusivity, many brick-and-mortar fashion brands only offered extended sizing options online.
    Virgie Tovar, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The hooks reduce hand fatigue, allowing crafters to work on their projects for more extended periods.
    Jené Luciani Sena, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Long.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/long. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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