1
a
: extending for a considerable distance
a long coastline
b
: having greater length than usual
a long corridor
c
: having greater height than usual : tall
d
: having a greater length than breadth : elongated
e
: having a greater length than desirable or necessary
the column is one line too long
f
: full-length
long pants
2
a
: having a specified length
six feet long
b
: forming the chief linear dimension
the long side of the room
3
a
: extending over a considerable time
a long friendship
b
: having a specified duration
two hours long
c
: prolonged beyond the usual time
a long look
d
: lasting too long : tedious
a long explanation
4
a
: containing many items in a series
a long list
b
: having a specified number of units
300 pages long
c
: consisting of a greater number or amount than usual : large
was married, and had a long family—
A. T. Quiller-Couch
A. T. Quiller-Couch5
a
of a speech sound
: having a relatively long duration
b
: being the member of a pair of similarly spelled vowel or vowel-containing sounds that is descended from a vowel long in duration
long a in fate
long i in sign
c
of a syllable in prosody
(1)
: of relatively extended duration
(2)
: bearing a stress or accent
a long syllable
6
: having the capacity to reach, extend, or travel a considerable distance
a long left jab
tried to hit the long ball
7
: larger or longer than the standard
a long count by the referee
8
a
: extending far into the future
the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts—H. W. Longfellow
H. W. Longfellow
b
: extending beyond what is known
a long guess
c
: payable after a considerable period
a long note
9
: possessing a high degree or a great deal of something specified : strong
long on common sense
10
a
: of an unusual degree of difference between the amounts wagered on each side
long odds
b
: of or relating to the larger amount wagered
take the long end of the bet
11
: subject to great odds
take a long chance for a large reward—W. P. Webb
W. P. Webb12
: owning or accumulating securities or goods especially in anticipation of an advance in prices
they are now long on wheat
take a long position in steel
1
: for or during a long time
long a popular hangout
2
: at or to a long distance : far
long-traveled
3
: for the duration of a specified period
month-long
all summer long
4
: at a point of time far before or after a specified moment or event
was excited long before the big day
5
: after or beyond a specified or implied time
didn't stay longer than midnight
6
: for a considerable distance
threw the ball long
7
: in or into a long position (as on a market)
1
: a long period of time
2
: a long syllable
3
: one taking a long position especially in a security or commodity market
4
a
longs plural
: long trousers
b
: a size in clothing for tall men
longed; longing
ˈlȯŋ-iŋ 
: to feel a strong desire or craving especially for something not likely to be attained
they long for peace
longing to return home
Examples of long in a Sentence
Adjective
The bridge is the longest in the world.
We drove a long distance.
the long side of the building
The whale was 50 feet long.
“How long was the race?” “The race was five miles long.”
They've had a long and happy marriage.
She finds it hard to sit still for long periods of time.
The company has a long tradition of serving its customers well.
A day is 24 hours long.
The team has had a long streak of wins.
Adverb
The extra food she brought did not last long.
They'll have to wait a bit longer.
The mall has long been a popular hangout for teenagers.
They have long been devoted friends.
It's been so long since we've seen each other.
It's been much too long since we've seen each other.
That meeting was way too long.
We had to leave long before we were ready to go.
We talked all night long.
events that occurred long before the discovery of America
Noun
they should be here before long
Verb (1)
I long for the day when cancer is but a distant and unpleasant memory
Recent Examples on the Web
Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
The long sleeves, side pockets, and relaxed silhouette will layer well over a T-shirt this fall and can be worn under a heavier jacket in the winter.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
One issue is that hypnosis has long been viewed as a form of entertainment, a stage show with a hypnotist and an audience, which can give viewers a sense that hypnosis is something done to you rather than a process that a person is led through.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Last week, even though the Chiefs did a great job containing him (Gibbs averaged 4 yards per carry, with a long of just 15 yards), Gibbs got 17 carries, including a whopping nine on the Lions' first drive.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Those still longing for a puzzle are in luck because the public doesn’t know what K4 says or how it was encrypted.
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for long
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
But the 21-year-old mother is worried about what the coming weeks will look like for her family as the second-longest government shutdown in US history threatens their access to a critical food assistance program.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
The long sleeves, side pockets, and relaxed silhouette will layer well over a T-shirt this fall and can be worn under a heavier jacket in the winter.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Adverb
How long will Scorsone be on hiatus?
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
One issue is that hypnosis has long been viewed as a form of entertainment, a stage show with a hypnotist and an audience, which can give viewers a sense that hypnosis is something done to you rather than a process that a person is led through.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
On the surface, Trump longs for grandeur.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Last week, even though the Chiefs did a great job containing him (Gibbs averaged 4 yards per carry, with a long of just 15 yards), Gibbs got 17 carries, including a whopping nine on the Lions' first drive.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
Even after hearing that member's most candid review of the experience, Willmore admits that his younger self still longed to be a part of Greek life.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Those still longing for a puzzle are in luck because the public doesn’t know what K4 says or how it was encrypted.
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for long
Cite this Entry
“Long.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
long
1 of 3 adjective1
: of great extent from end to end : not short
2
a
: having a specified length
a meter long
b
: forming the chief linear dimension
the long side of the table
3
: lasting for a considerable or specified time
a long friendship
two hours long
4
: overly long or lasting too long
a long look
a long explanation
5
: containing many or a specified number of units
a long series of wins
6
: being a syllable or speech sound of relatively great duration
7
: extending far into the future
8
: strong in or well supplied with something
long on golf
long on wisdom
long
2 of 3 adverb1
: for or during a long time
long a popular hangout
2
: for the length of a specified period
all summer long
3
: at a distant point of time
long before we arrived
long
3 of 3 verb
longed; longing
ˈlȯŋ-iŋ
: to feel a strong desire or wish
longing to return home
Etymology
Adjective
Old English long, lang "extending a great distance"
Verb
Old English langian "to feel a strong desire for something"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share