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long
/lɔŋ/
measuring a great distance
The road was very long and winding.
Describes a road that extends a great distance and has many curves.
neutral
Measuring a great distance from end to end
She has long hair.
Her hair extends a significant distance down her back.
The meeting was long and boring.
The meeting lasted a great deal of time and felt tedious.
Used for physical distance, time, or abstract duration. Often paired with 'for' in time expressions (e.g., 'long for summer').
neutral
Lasting or taking a great amount of time
It takes a long time to learn a language.
Learning a language requires a significant duration.
Common in phrases like 'long ago' or 'long before'.
neutral
Extending a specified distance
The dress is two sizes too long.
The dress extends further than intended, making it too large.
Often used with measurements (e.g., 'three meters long').
neutral
At a considerable distance in space or time
The store is long from here.
The store is situated a great distance away.
Less common in modern usage; often replaced by 'far' or 'a long way'.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish 'long' vs. 'tall'
'Long' describes horizontal distance (e.g., a long road), while 'tall' describes vertical height (e.g., a tall building).
Gold Rule
Avoid redundancy with 'long' and 'time'
Use 'long' alone to describe duration (e.g., 'It took long') or pair with 'for' (e.g., 'for a long time'). Avoid 'long time duration'—it's redundant.
Word Origin
Old English 'lang', of Germanic origin; related to Old High German 'lang', Old Norse 'langr', and Latin 'longus'.
Usage Notes
As an adjective, 'long' describes physical length, duration, or extent. As an adverb, it modifies verbs (e.g., 'He longed for home'). Avoid using 'long' to describe emotional states; prefer 'longing' or 'yearning'.
Word Breakdown
long
great in distance or duration
rootEnglish Dictionary