Long Definition

lông, lŏng
longed, longer, longest, longing, longs
adjective
longer, longest
Measuring much from end to end in space or from beginning to end in time; not short or brief.
Webster's New World
Having relatively great height; tall.
American Heritage
Measured from end to end rather than from side to side.
The long dimension.
Webster's New World
Of greater than usual or standard length, height, quantity, etc.
A long game, a long window, a long ton.
Webster's New World
Of a specified extent in length.
A foot long.
Webster's New World
adverb
For a long time.
Webster's New World
At or to a considerable distance; far.
She walked long past the end of the trail.
American Heritage
For the duration of; from the beginning to the end.
All day long.
Webster's New World
At a much earlier or a much later time than the time indicated; remotely.
To stay long after midnight.
Webster's New World
Beyond a given boundary, limit, or goal.
Hit the return long.
American Heritage
noun
longs
Long pants.
Webster's New World
A variation of clothing size longer than the average for that size.
Webster's New World
A signal, syllable, etc. of long duration.
Webster's New World
A long time.
It won't take long to finish the work.
Webster's New World
One who acquires holdings in a security or commodity in expectation of a rise in price.
American Heritage
verb
longed, longing, longs
To feel a strong yearning; wish earnestly.
To long to go home, to long for affection.
Webster's New World
To have an earnest, heartfelt desire, especially for something beyond reach.
American Heritage
To be fitting or appropriate.
Webster's New World
(finance) To take a long position in.
Wiktionary

(archaic) To be appropriate to, to pertain or belong to.

Wiktionary
Antonyms:
abbreviation
Longitude.
Webster's New World
preposition

Abbreviation of along.

Wiktionary
suffix
Forms adjectives indicating duration when suffixed to nouns of duration.
Wiktionary
idiom
any longer
  • For more time:

    can't wait any longer.

American Heritage
before long
  • Soon.
American Heritage
long ago
  • At a time or during a period well before the present:

    I read that book long ago.

  • A time well before the present:

    heroes of long ago.

American Heritage
long in the tooth
  • Growing old.
American Heritage
no longer
  • Not now as formerly:

    He no longer smokes.

American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Long

Noun

Singular:
long
Plural:
longs

Adjective

Base Form:
long
Comparative:
longer
Superlative:
longest

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Long

Origin of Long

  • From Middle English long, lang, from Old English long, lang (“long, tall, lasting"), from Proto-Germanic *langaz (“long"), from Proto-Indo-European *dlÌ¥h₁gʰós (“long"). Cognate with Scots lang (“long"), North Frisian long, lung (“long"), Saterland Frisian loang (“long"), West Frisian lang (“long"), Dutch lang (“long"), German lang (“long"), Swedish lÃ¥ng (“long"), Icelandic langur (“long"), Latin longus (“long"), Ancient Greek δολιχός (dolikhos), Russian долгий (dólgij), длинный (dlinnyj).

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle English longen, from Old English langian (“to long for, yearn after, grieve for, be pained, lengthen, grow longer, summon, belong"), from Proto-Germanic *langōnÄ… (“to desire, long for"), from Proto-Indo-European *dlÌ¥h₁gʰós (“long"). Cognate with German langen (“to reach, be sufficient"), Swedish langa (“to push, pass by hand"), Icelandic langa (“to want, desire"), Dutch and German verlangen (“to desire, want, long for").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English longen from Old English langian del-1 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Aphetic form of Old English gelang; the verb later reinterpreted as an aphetic form of belong.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old English lang del-1 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From long

    From Wiktionary

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