Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Primarily spatial sense; of relatively great or greater than average spatial extension: Having a great distance from one end to the other.
   • Primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time: Lasting or taking a great amount of time.
   • Of relatively great height: Tall.
   • Having or being more than normal or necessary: Abundant or plentiful in a specified quality.
   • Holding securities or commodities in expectation of a rise in prices: Owning financial assets with the expectation their value will increase.
   • Good at remembering: Having a retentive memory.
   • (of speech sounds or syllables) of relatively long duration: Pronounced with a greater length of time.
   • Involving substantial risk: Having low probability of success; long odds.

2. Adverb:

   • For an extended time or at a distant time: For a great duration; far in the past or future.
   • For an extended distance: Over a great spatial extent.

3. Verb (intransitive):

   • To desire strongly or persistently: To have a strong, earnest wish or yearning.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Spatial):
  • It is a long road from here to the city.
  • She has beautiful long hair.
• Adjective (Temporal):
  • We had a long and productive meeting.
  • He has been a friend for a long time.
• Adjective (Height):
  • The basketball player is very long and athletic.
• Adjective (Abundant):
  • He is long on enthusiasm but short on experience.
• Adverb (Time):
  • I have long admired her work.
  • They talked long into the night.
• Adverb (Distance):
  • The signal could be heard long before we saw the source.
• Verb:
  • The children long for the summer holidays.
  • She longed to travel the world.

Advanced Usage

• "The long and the short of it": The essential point or summary of a matter.
  • The long and the short of it is that we need more funding.
• "In the long run": Over or after a long period of time; eventually.
  • Saving money is difficult, but it pays off in the long run.
• "To take a long view": To consider the distant future when making decisions.
  • The company is taking a long view by investing in sustainable energy.
• "To have a long face": To look sad or disappointed.
  • Why do you have such a long face?
• "So long": (Informal) Goodbye.
  • Thanks for coming! So long!

Variants and Related Words

• Length (n.): The measurement of something from end to end; the amount of time something lasts.
• Lengthen (v.): To make or become longer.
• Lengthy (adj.): (Often used for time or writing) Very long, and often too long.
• Longing (n.): A strong, persistent desire or wish.
• Longevity (n.): Long life; long existence or duration.
• Long-term (adj.): Involving or extending over a long period.
• Long-distance (adj./adv.): Covering a great distance.

Synonyms

• Adjective (Spatial/Temporal): Extended, lengthy, prolonged, extensive.
• Adjective (Tall): Tall, lofty.
• Verb: Yearn, pine, crave, desire, hanker.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Long for: To desire something very much.
  • He longed for the peace of the countryside.
• Long after: To desire or remember something from a distant past.
  • She still longed after her days at university.

Related Idioms

• As long as / So long as: Provided that; on the condition that.
  • You can borrow the car as long as you fill up the tank.
• Before long: Soon; after a short time.
  • He started a new job, and before long he was promoted.
• All day long: For the entire day.
  • It rained all day long.
• For long: For a long period of time. (Often used in negative or interrogative sentences).
  • He didn't stay for long.
  • Will you be away for long?

Adjective

1. having or being more than normal or necessary:"long on brains"
   • in long supply
2. planning prudently for the future
   • large goals that required farsighted policies
   • took a long view of the geopolitical issues
3. involving substantial risk
   • long odds
4. (of speech sounds or syllables) of relatively long duration
   • the English vowel sounds in `bate', `beat', `bite', `boat', `boot' are long
5. holding securities or commodities in expectation of a rise in prices
   • is long on coffee
   • a long position in gold
6. good at remembering
   • a retentive mind
   • tenacious memory
7. of relatively great height
   • a race of long gaunt men- Sherwood Anderson
   • looked out the long French windows
8. primarily spatial sense; of relatively great or greater than average spatial extension or extension as specified
   • a long road
   • a long distance
   • contained many long words
   • ten miles long
9. primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
   • a long life
   • a long boring speech
   • a long time
   • a long friendship
   • a long game
   • long ago
   • an hour long

Adverb

1. for an extended distance
2. for an extended time or at a distant time
   • a promotion long overdue
   • something long hoped for
   • his name has long been forgotten
   • talked all night long
   • how long will you be gone?
   • arrived long before he was expected
   • it is long after your bedtime

Verb

1. desire strongly or persistently