as long as
10 synonyms and 0 antonyms for as long as, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Conjunction — On the condition that; used to say that one thing will happen only if another thing is true.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. conjunction
On the condition that; used to say that one thing will happen only if another thing is true.
“You can borrow the car as long as you fill it up.”
2. conjunction
During the whole time that; for the period that something continues.
“You are welcome to stay as long as you need to.”
3. conjunction
Since, or given that; used to point out that a situation makes a course of action sensible.
“As long as you are up, could you put the kettle on?”
How to use as long as
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral in all registers. So long as is slightly more formal and more common in British English.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between as long as and so long as?
They mean the same thing and are interchangeable in the conditional sense. So long as sounds a little more formal and is more common in British English, while as long as is the default everywhere and is the only form used for the time sense, as in 'stay as long as you like'.
Do you need a comma with as long as?
Use a comma when the clause comes first: 'As long as you are careful, you can use my tools.' No comma is needed when it comes second: 'You can use my tools as long as you are careful.'