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adjective Very common

longer

LONG-uh
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Longer (adjective) means the comparative form of "long"; extending further in distance or time. Example: “This route is longer but has much better views.”

adjective
1
The comparative form of "long"; extending further in distance or time.
"This route is longer but has much better views."
"We need a longer meeting to cover everything."
"The queue was longer than I expected, so I came back later."

How to use longer

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMore long — used to compare distances or durations.

Common pairings
no longer a longer wait even longer
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Word forms

Plural
longers
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

This route is _____ but has much better views.

Etymology

This word came from Middle English longer, longere, a normalisation of the Middle English lenger, lengere ("longer"), from Old English lengra ("longer"), from Proto-Germanic *langizô ("longer"), the comparative of Proto-Germanic *langaz ("long"); it is equivalent to long + -er. It is cognate with Saterland Frisian laanger ("longer"), West Frisian langer ("longer"), Dutch langer ("longer"), German länger ("longer"), Danish længere ("longer"), Swedish längre ("longer"), and Icelandic lengri ("longer").

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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lengthier more extended more drawn-out

Rhymes for longer

monger warmonger fishmonger
See all rhymes for longer →

Frequently asked questions

What does “longer” mean?
The word “longer” means the comparative form of "long"; extending further in distance or time. In plain terms, more long — used to compare distances or durations.
How do you pronounce “longer”?
“Longer” is pronounced LONG-uh (/ˈlɔŋ.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “longer” in a sentence?
Here is “longer” used in a sentence: “This route is longer but has much better views.”
What part of speech is “longer”?
“Longer” is an adjective.
Is “longer” a common word?
“Longer” is a very common word in modern English.
What is the difference between 'long' and 'longer'?
'Long' is the base adjective, describing something with great length in distance or time. 'Longer' is its comparative form, used to compare two things — one extends further than the other. A road can be long, but a second road can be longer still. Use 'longer' whenever you are measuring one thing against another.
Is it correct to say 'more long' instead of 'longer'?
No. Because 'long' is a short, one-syllable adjective, its comparative is formed by adding -er, giving 'longer.' Saying 'more long' is ungrammatical in standard English. The rule holds for most short adjectives — 'taller,' not 'more tall.' Only longer adjectives, such as 'beautiful,' take 'more' to form the comparative.
What is the opposite of longer?
The opposite of longer is shorter, the comparative of 'short.' Where 'longer' means extending further in distance or time, 'shorter' means extending less. A shorter route covers less ground; a shorter meeting takes less time. The two comparatives are used the same way, simply pointing in opposite directions.

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