long
long
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "long" is /lɔŋ/.
/lɔŋ/
Word Form Variations
Adjective: long (positive), longer (comparative), longest (superlative)
Adverb: long (positive), longer (comparative), longest (superlative)
Verb: long (base form), longs (third person singular present), longing (present participle), longed (past simple, past participle)
Noun: long (singular, often in specific phrases like "for the long run")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Measuring a great distance from end to end; extended in space.
Synonyms: extended, lengthy, elongated, stretched, extensive
Antonyms: short, brief, curtailed, compact, stubby
Definition 2: Measuring a great duration in time; extended in duration.
Synonyms: lengthy, protracted, extended, prolonged, enduring
Antonyms: short, brief, fleeting, momentary, quick
Definition 3: Extending far into the future or past.
Synonyms: distant, remote, far-off, historical (for past)
Antonyms: near, immediate, close-at-hand, recent
Definition 4: (Of a vowel sound) Pronounced with a relatively greater duration.
Synonyms: prolonged, drawn-out
Antonyms: short, clipped
Definition 5: (Of a shot or pass in sports) Traveling a great distance.
Synonyms: deep, far, extended
Antonyms: short, close, near
Adverb
Definition 1: For a long period of time.
Synonyms: for ages, for a long while, enduringly
Antonyms: briefly, quickly, for a moment
Definition 2: To a great extent or distance.
Synonyms: far, widely, extensively
Antonyms: little, barely, hardly
Definition 3: (In questions or negative statements) At a particular time in the past or future; from then until now.
Example usage: "How long have you been waiting?" "It won't be long now."
Synonyms: (Implied duration)
Antonyms: (Implied brevity)
Verb
Definition 1: To have a strong desire or yearning for something, especially something unattainable or far away.
Synonyms: yearn, crave, hanker, pine, ache, desire
Antonyms: despise, loathe, dislike, abhor, be averse to
Noun
Definition 1: (Usually in the plural "longs") Shares or commodities bought in anticipation of a price increase.
Synonyms: bullish position, assets (in this context)
Antonyms: shorts (as in short selling), bearish position
Definition 2: (In various contexts, e.g., "for the long haul," "the long run") A long period of time or distance.
Synonyms: duration, stretch, expanse
Antonyms: short term, immediacy
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a long and arduous journey across the vast, arid plains, testing their endurance at every step." (Fictional example from an adventure novel)
"The historian traced the long lineage of the royal family, documenting centuries of rule and change." (From a non-fiction historical text)
"He began to long for the familiar comforts of home, a deep ache rising within him as he thought of his family." (Fictional example from a character-driven novel)
Newspapers:
"Experts predict a long, hot dry season across several parts of Kenya, exacerbating water shortages." ("The Standard,")
"After a long debate, parliament finally passed the controversial finance bill, despite public outcry." ("Daily Nation,")
"Investors are advised to take a long-term view when considering new infrastructure projects." ("Business Daily Africa,")
Online Publications:
"How to grow long, healthy hair: A comprehensive guide to hair care." (An article on a beauty blog, e.g., "Allure.com,")
"Travelers long for authentic local experiences over generic tourist traps." (A travel article on "Lonely Planet Online,")
"The company is making a long-term commitment to renewable energy sources." (A corporate news release on "Sustainability Today,")
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "May the odds be ever in your favor." (Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games, 2012) - A familiar line from a "long" dialogue scene or repeated often.
Television Series: "This is going to be a long night, detective. We have a lot of ground to cover." (Dialogue in a crime procedural, e.g., CSI)
Song Lyrics: "How long must I wait for you? How long must I suffer?" (From U2's song "Sunday Bloody Sunday," 1983)
Video Games: "You have a long way to go before you reach the final boss." (In-game hint or dialogue to the player, e.g., The Legend of Zelda)
Podcasts: "Our special guest has been a long-time advocate for mental health awareness." (A podcast host introducing a guest, e.g., "The Tim Ferriss Show")
General Public Discourse:
"It's been a long day, I'm exhausted." (A common complaint after a busy day)
"How long will it take to get to Mombasa from Nairobi?" (A common question about travel time)
"I really long for a quiet vacation after all this stress." (Expressing a strong desire)
"Don't take too long in the shower, we're in a hurry." (A request to someone)
"We had to wait in a very long queue at the bank today." (A common observation in public places)
10 Famous Quotes Using Long
“So long as you do not achieve social liberty, whatever freedom is provided by the law is of no avail to you.” – B.R. Ambedkar
“Life is short, but it is wide. This too shall pass; it won’t take too long.” – Rebecca Wells
“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears for too long.” – Les Brown
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“It takes a long time to become young.” – Pablo Picasso
“Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light.” – John Milton
“As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think big.” – Donald Trump
“A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams, and dreams take a long time to build.” – John Barrymore
“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone — as long as we try.” – Ronald Reagan
“So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters.” – Virginia Woolf
Etymology
The word "long" comes from Old English.
It originated from the Old English word lang (or long).
This word already meant "extended in space or time," "of great extent," or "tall."
It's related to similar words in other Germanic languages (like German lang and Dutch lang) and ultimately traces back to an ancient Proto-Indo-European root that had the sense of "long" or "extended."
The first known use of "long" in English, with its core meaning of "extended in spatial or temporal dimension," dates back to before the 9th century (Old English period). This means it's a very fundamental and ancient word in the English language, and its meaning has remained remarkably consistent over many centuries.
The verb "to long" (meaning to desire strongly) developed from the idea of "a long wait" or "a long desire," suggesting an extended yearning for something. This verbal sense also appeared in Old English as langian.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Long
As long as: Provided that; during the whole time that.
Before long: Soon; in a short time.
In the long run: Over a long period of time; eventually.
Long story short: To tell something briefly; to summarize.
A long shot: Something with very little chance of success.
The long and short of it: The essential facts or basic truth of a matter.
To make a long story short: To summarize a lengthy narrative. (Synonym for "long story short")
Long-suffering: Patiently enduring trouble or problems for a long time.
By a long shot: By a great amount or degree.
Not by a long shot: Not at all; by no means.
Long-drawn-out: Continuing for a very long time, often tediously.
Long-standing: Having existed or continued for a long time.
For a long stretch: For an extended period without interruption. (Original phrase, similar to "for a long time")
A long memory: The ability to remember events from the distant past.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of long from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
