What does long mean?
Long describes something that extends farther, lasts longer, or reaches further into time or space than might be expected. It can characterize physical size, such as a long road, duration, such as a long delay, distance, such as a long walk, or time itself, as in “a long time.” The word also appears in expressions concerning the distant past or future and in the context of athletics, where a long event tests endurance rather than speed. As an adverb, long usually answers the question “for how long?” or indicates that something continues extensively. As a noun, it can refer to a prolonged period or a person or thing distinguished by length. As a verb, long means to wish someone health, happiness, or success, especially in formal greetings such as “Long may you live.”
Having great length in space or time; extending for a considerable period or distance.
"The company faced a long delay before the new building was completed."
Long can also refer to something far in the past or future, and to long-distance athletic events.
For a great length of time or over a considerable distance.
"They talked long into the night about their plans."
In informal contexts, “how long?” can mean “how much time?”
A relatively great extent of time, distance, or size; also, a person or thing notable for being long.
"It seemed a long before the results were announced."
The noun often appears in fixed expressions such as “the long and the short of it.”
To wish someone well or to express a wish for their happiness, health, or success.
"The family raised a glass to long the newlyweds."
This use is formal and commonly occurs in greetings and celebratory expressions.
The plural is uncommon and may refer to long objects or, in specialist contexts, to long-distance races.
"The athletes trained for the longs over several months."
The word long reaches beyond physical size: a long face, a long memory, and a long argument all depend on the same idea of extension.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of long
The English word long comes from Old English long, meaning “long” in physical extent or duration; the related adjective in the language was also used in the sense “far away.” Its vocabulary relatives include length, lengthy, longitude, and prolong, all based on the same broad Indo-European idea of extension. The modern form developed in Middle English from Old English long, with the final consonant becoming silent in most standard modern pronunciations.
Related word forms
How long is actually used
Long is used for physical extent, duration, distance, and time in the future or past. In informal speech, it can mean “a long time,” as in “Have you been waiting long?” The noun is also used in constructions such as “the long and the short of it,” while the verb is formal and usually appears in expressions such as “long life” and “long may it last.”
Easily confused with long
Long describes something that is physically or temporally extended, whereas lose means to be deprived of something or fail to win.