long
long
Long (adjective) means measuring a great distance from end to end. Example: “They walked down a long corridor to reach the office.”
adjective
1
Measuring a great distance from end to end.
"They walked down a long corridor to reach the office."
"She has long, dark hair."
"The long bridge stretches across the river and into the village."
2
Lasting for a great amount of time.
"It was a long meeting that dragged on for hours."
"After a long wait at the airport, we finally boarded the plane."
"It has been a long day, and I am ready for bed."
verb
1
To feel a strong desire or yearning for something.
"She longed for the days when life felt simpler."
"After months abroad, the soldier longed to see his family again."
"Children often long for summer when the school term drags on."
2
(finance) To hold or buy an asset expecting its price to rise.
"The fund decided to long the stock ahead of earnings."
"Some traders long a currency when they expect it to strengthen."
"Investors may long shares they believe are currently undervalued."
adverb
1
For a great amount of time.
"We waited long into the night for news."
"I won't stay long, because I have an early start tomorrow."
"The old castle has stood here long before the town grew up around it."
How to use long
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something that stretches a great distance or takes a great amount of time; as a verb, to yearn for something.
Common mistake
As a finance term, "to long a stock" means to bet on it rising — the opposite of "to short" it.
Common pairings
a long journey
long for something
long overdue
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- longs
- Past tense
- longed
- Comparative
- longer
- Superlative
- longest
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They walked down a _____ corridor to reach the office.
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.
Synonyms
View more →
lengthy
extended
elongated
extensive
stretched-out
far-reaching
farsighted
farseeing
hanker
yearn
lengthful
lengthsome
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for long
See all rhymes for 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.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing long in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
The two-time paralympian, 25, won gold at the USA track and field outdoor national championships in New York City on July 23 for the T64 women's long jump competition.
From
Today.com · Jul 25, 2026
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