long

long

I. long¹ S1 W1 /lɒŋ $ lɒːŋ/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative longer, superlative longest)
[Language: Old English; Origin: long, lang]
1. GREAT LENGTH measuring a great length from one end to the other OPP short:
a long table
long hair
the longest tunnel in the world
He stretched out his long legs.
a long line of people
2. GREAT DISTANCE continuing or travelling a great distance from one place to another OPP short:
a long distance
Springfield is a long way from Chicago.
Liz lives in Cheltenham, which is a long way away.
long journey/walk/flight/drive etc (=a journey etc over a large distance that takes a lot of time)
It’s a long walk to the shops from here.
3. LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME continuing for a large amount of time, or for a larger amount of time than usual OPP short:
a long period of time
a long history of success
He has a long memory.
(for) a long time/while
He’s been gone a long time.
I haven’t been there for a long while.
It took a long time to get everything ready.
She died a long time ago.
long silence/pause/delay etc
There was a long silence before anybody spoke.
She’s recovering from a long illness.
Doctors often work long hours (=work for more time than is usual).
the longest time American English spoken (=a very long time)
It took me the longest time to figure out how to open the windows.
4. PARTICULAR LENGTH/DISTANCE/TIME used to talk or ask about a particular length, distance, or time:
How long is your garden?
How long is the film?
The cable is not quite long enough.
two metres/three miles etc long
The bridge is 140 feet long.
two hours/three days etc long
The speech was twenty minutes long.
5. WRITING containing a lot of words, letters, names, or pages OPP short:
a long novel
a long list
He has a very long name.
He owes money to a list of people as long as your arm (=a very long list).
6. CLOTHING covering all of your arms or legs OPP short:
a long dress
a long-sleeved shirt
7. TIRING/BORING spoken making you feel tired or bored:
It’s been a long day.
8. VOWEL technical a long vowel in a word is pronounced for a longer time than a short vowel with the same sound OPP short
9. how long is a piece of string? British English spoken used when there is no definite answer to a question:
‘How long will it take to finish the project?’ ‘How long is a piece of string?’
10. the long and (the) short of it spoken used when you are telling someone the most important facts about something rather than all the details:
The long and the short of it is that we missed the train.
11. the long arm of somebody/something written the power of someone or something that has authority, especially to catch and punish someone:
He won’t escape the long arm of the law.
12. long face a sad or disappointed expression on someone’s face
13. long in the tooth informal too old – used humorously:
I’m getting a bit long in the tooth for this sort of thing.
14. not long for this world literary likely to die or stop existing soon
15. long on something having a lot of a quality:
He was short on patience, but long on a sense of his own worth.
16. long odds if there are long odds against something happening, it is very unlikely that it will happen
17. in the long run/term used when talking about what will happen at a later time or when something is finished:
All our hard work will be worth it in the long run.
18. long shot someone or something with very little chance of success:
Chelsea are a 20–1 long shot to win the championship.
19. long time no see spoken used humorously to say hello when you have not seen someone for a long time
20. take the long view (of something) to think about the effect that something will have in the future rather than what happens now
21. a long way very much, far, or a great amount or degree:
We’re still a long way from achieving our sales targets.
Psychiatry has come a long way (=developed a lot) since the 1920s.
Your contributions will go a long way towards helping children in need (=will help to reach a goal).
by a long way/shot informal also by a long chalk )British English (=used when something is much better, quicker, cheaper etc)
It was his best performance this year, by a long way.
not by a long way/shot informal also not by a long chalk )British English (=not at all or not nearly)
He had not told Rory everything, not by a long shot.
22. long weekend three or more days, including Saturday and Sunday, when you do not have to go to work or school
⇨ at (long) last at ↑last³(2), ⇨ it’s a long story at ↑story(10), ⇨ cut/make a long story short at ↑story(11), ⇨ a little (of something) goes a long way at ↑little²(5), ⇨ have a long way to go at ↑way¹(19)
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ long continuing for a long time: The film was very long. | There has been a long period without rain.
▪ lengthy continuing for a long time, especially longer than you want or expect: Drivers face lengthy delays on all roads out of the city. | Police are going through the lengthy process of re-examining all the evidence. | He faces a lengthy prison sentence.
▪ long-running [only before noun] continuing for a long time - used especially about disputes, campaigns, or shows: He has been involved in a long-running dispute with his neighbour. | The programme is one of the longest-running series on television. | a long-running campaign to prevent the airport from being built
▪ long-lasting continuing for a long time – used especially about effects or relationships: Stress can have long-lasting effects. | While at the school, she made many long-lasting friendships.
▪ protracted formal continuing for a long time, especially an unusually long time: Despite protracted negotiations, they were unable to reach an agreement. | The couple have been involved in a protracted battle for custody of their children.
▪ prolonged continuing for a long time, especially longer than expected, or longer in a way that makes a situation worse: He returned to work after a prolonged absence. | Studies have linked prolonged use of the drug to cancer. | a prolonged period of economic decline
▪ extended [only before noun] continuing for a long time - used especially about visits, trips, breaks etc that last longer than was planned: an extended stay in hospital | He took an extended break from work after his father died. | She didn’t like being away from home for extended periods.
▪ lasting [only before noun] strong enough or great enough to continue for a long time: The negotiations were aimed at achieving a lasting peace. | This affair has done lasting damage to the President’s credibility. | The book left a lasting impression on me.
▪ enduring continuing for a long time – used especially about memories, influences, or feelings of liking someone or something: One of my most enduring memories is of going on holiday to France with my parents. | the enduring appeal of Conan Doyle's stories | his enduring love for Ireland
▪ marathon [only before noun] continuing for a very long time and needing a lot of energy, patience, or determination: It was a marathon session of talks which continued until 3 am. | He arrived after a marathon journey across Europe.
■ too long
▪ long-winded continuing for too long - used about speeches, answers, explanations etc: a very long-winded answer to a simple question | He gave a long-winded speech about the company's vision for the future.
▪ interminable very long and boring: They faced an interminable wait in the departure lounge of the airport. | The journey seemed interminable.
▪ long-drawn-out [only before noun] used about a process that continues for much too long: The news heightened expectations that the long-drawn-out investigation might be coming to a close.