long
10 synonyms and 2 antonyms for long, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Measuring a great distance from end to end.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use long
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English long, lang ("long, tall, lasting"), from Proto-Germanic *langaz, ultimately from a very old Indo-European root also behind Latin longus.
Full origin of long →Frequently asked questions
What does “long” mean?
The word “long” means measuring a great distance from end to end. In plain terms, describes something that stretches a great distance or takes a great amount of time; as a verb, to yearn for something.
How do you pronounce “long”?
“Long” is pronounced long (/lɑŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “long” in a sentence?
Here is “long” used in a sentence: “They walked down a long corridor to reach the office.”
What is another word for “long”?
Words with a similar meaning to “long” include lengthful, lengthsome, longsome and prolix.
What is the opposite of “long”?
The opposite of “long” — its antonyms — are short and wide.
What part of speech is “long”?
Depending on how it is used, “long” can be an adjective, a verb and an adverb.
Where does the word “long” come from?
The word “long” comes from Latin. From Old English long, lang ("long, tall, lasting"), from Proto-Germanic *langaz, ultimately from a very old Indo-European root also behind Latin longus.
Is “long” a common word?
“Long” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between long and tall?
Both describe great length, but in different directions. 'Long' measures distance from end to end, usually horizontally — a long road or a long table. 'Tall' measures height, from bottom to top — a tall building or a tall person. You would call a snake long but a tree tall, depending on how each one extends.
What is the opposite of long?
The main opposite is 'short.' A long road is the reverse of a short one, whether you mean physical distance or duration. Depending on context, other contrasts work too: 'brief' for time, or 'compact' and 'small' for size. But 'short' is the standard antonym in almost every everyday use.
Can 'long' describe time as well as distance?
Yes. Although its core meaning is physical distance from end to end, 'long' also describes duration — a long wait, a long film, a long time ago. In both senses it signals that something extends far, whether across space or through time. Context makes clear which kind of length is meant.