long

synonyms, antonyms, definitions, examples & translations of long in English

English Online Dictionary. What means long‎? What does long mean?

English

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /lɒŋ/
- (Conservative RP) IPA^(key): /lɔːŋ/
(General American) enPR: lông, IPA^(key): /lɔŋ/
(cot–caught merger) enPR: läng, IPA^(key): /lɑŋ/
(Black Country) enPR: lo͝oŋg, IPA^(key): /lʊŋɡ/
Hyphenation: long
Rhymes: -ɒŋ

Etymology 1

From Middle English long, lang, from Old English long, lang (“long, tall, lasting”), from Proto-West Germanic *lang, from Proto-Germanic *langaz (“long”), from Proto-Indo-European *dlongʰos (“long”).

Cognate with Scots lang (“long”), North Frisian long, lung (“long”), West Frisian long (“long”), Saterland Frisian loang (“long”), Norwegian, Dutch and German lang (“long”), Low German and Swedish lång (“long”), Icelandic langur (“long”), Portuguese longo (“long”), Spanish luengo (“long”), French long, Italian lungo, Latin longus (“long”), Russian дли́нный (dlínnyj), до́лго (dólgo), Sanskrit दीर्घ (dīrgha, “long”).

The word exceptionally retains the Old English darkening of -a- before nasals. Though there are other such examples in Middle and Modern English (e.g. bond, song, throng, wrong), the o-form may have been reinforced by Old French long, from Latin longus, from the same Indo-European word. Doublet of lungo and lunge.

Adjective

long (comparative longer or more long, superlative longest or most long)

Having much distance in space from one end to the other.
1. Specifically, having much distance in a horizontal dimension (see also Usage Notes below).
2. Travelling a great distance.
3. (informal) Having a long penis.
Travelling or extending too great a distance in space.
1. (of weapons fire, landing aircraft, etc.) Passing or landing ahead of or beyond the intended target or location.
2. (sports, of a ball or shot) Going beyond the intended target.
Having great duration.
Seeming to last a lot of time, due to being boring, tedious, tiring, irksome, etc.
(UK, Ireland, dated) Not short; tall.
(finance) Possessing or owning stocks, bonds, commodities, or other financial instruments with the aim of benefiting from an expected rise in their value.
Antonym: short
(cricket) Of a fielding position, close to the boundary (or closer to the boundary than the equivalent short position).
(gambling) Of betting odds, offering a very large return for a small wager.
Occurring or coming after an extended interval; distant in time; far away.
(African-American Vernacular, slang, of money) In great supply; abundant.
(slang, MLE) Clipping of taking a long time.
Synonyms: boring, late, slow, time-consuming
(slang, MLE, by extension) stupid; annoying; bullshit
(slang, MLE, by extension) serious; deadly.
Synonyms: the end, curtains

Usage notes

Wide may be used instead of long when referring to a left-to-right horizontal dimension, or to a horizontal dimension shorter than that described as long (for example, a river that is wide and long). Deep may be used for a horizontal front-to-back dimension.
Tall or high are usually used instead of long when referring to positive vertical dimension (upwards), and deep when referring to negative vertical dimension (downwards).

Synonyms

(having much distance from one point to another): deep (vertically downwards), extended, high (vertically upwards), lengthy, tall
(having great duration): extended, lengthy, prolonged

Antonyms

(antonym(s) of “having much distance from one point to another”): low (vertically upwards), shallow (vertically upwards or downwards), short
(antonym(s) of “having great duration”): brief, short

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

long (plural longs)

(linguistics) A long vowel.
(prosody) A long syllable.
(music) A note formerly used in music, one half the length of a large, twice that of a breve.
(programming) A long integer variable, twice the size of an int, two or four times the size of a short, and half of a long long.
(finance) An entity with a long position in an asset; for example, a trader or investor possessing an amount of a company's shares.
Synonym: bull
(finance) A long-maturity security, such as a ten- or twenty-year bond.
- "U.S. Treasury Market Structure", https://www.mfaalts.org/issue/u-s-treasury-market-structure/
  Hedge funds are constrained in how much leverage they can utilize, in part because the futures contracts they are shorting against their Treasury longs have significant initial margin requirements.
(Oxbridge, dated) Clipping of long vacation (“summer vacation”).

Verb

long (third-person singular simple present longs, present participle longing, simple past and past participle longed)

(transitive, finance) To take a long position in.

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English longe, lange, from Old English longe, lange, from the adjective (see above).

Adverb

long (comparative longer, superlative longest)

(chiefly sports) Over a great distance in space.
Synonyms: a long way, far

Antonym: a short distance
1. Over too great a distance, beyond the target.
For a particular duration.
(as premodifier of a verb, participle, adjective, preposition, or adverb) For a long time.
(postposed to positive verb, rare) For a long time.
A long time (see usage notes).
Antonyms: an instant, a minute, a moment, a second, a short time, not long

Usage notes

The use of long with the sense a long time (found as a complement of verbs like take, have (got), need, spend, give, be or of the prepositions for or before) is normally restricted to questions and negative statements. In other situations, the phrase a long time is used instead:

Does it take long?

— No, it doesn't take long.

(nonstandard) — Yes, it takes long.

— Yes, it takes a long time.

— Yes, it takes far too long.

This restriction does not apply when "long" is modified by an adverb such as too or enough. It also does not apply when "long" is used as a premodifier of a verb, participle, adjective, preposition or adverb with the sense "for a long time".

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 3

From Middle English longen, from Old English langian (“to long for, yearn after, grieve for, be pained, lengthen, grow longer, summon, belong”), from Proto-West Germanic *langōn, from Proto-Germanic *langōną (“to desire, long for”), from Proto-Indo-European *lengʷʰ- (“to be easy, be quick, jump, move around, vary”). Cognate with German langen (“to reach, be sufficient”), Swedish langa (“to push, pass by hand”), Icelandic langa (“to want, desire”), Dutch, German verlangen (“to desire, want, long for”).

Verb

long (third-person singular simple present longs, present participle longing, simple past and past participle longed)

(intransitive) To await, aspire, desire greatly (something to occur or to be true).
Synonyms: ache, yearn

Usage notes

This is a catenative verb that takes the to-infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs

Derived terms

belong
forlong
long for
longing

Translations

Etymology 4

From Middle English long, lang, an aphetic form of Middle English ilong, ylong, from Old English ġelong, ġelang (“along, belonging, depending, consequent”); the verb later reinterpreted as an aphetic form of belong.

Adjective

long (not comparable)

(archaic) On account of, because of.

Verb

long (third-person singular simple present longs, present participle longing, simple past and past participle longed)

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

Etymology 5

Shortening of longitude.

Noun

long (plural longs)

Abbreviation of longitude.
Coordinate term: lat

Etymology 6

From Middle English longen, from Old English langian (“to belong, pertain”), from Old English *lang, which is of uncertain origin yet related to Old English ġelang (“dependent, attainable, present, belonging, consequent”), Old Saxon gilang (“ready, available”).

Verb

long (third-person singular simple present longs, present participle longing, simple past and past participle longed)

(obsolete) To belong.

References

Anagrams

OGNL, NLOG

Afrikaans

Etymology

From Dutch long, from Middle Dutch longe, also longen, longene, from Old Dutch *lungan, *lunganna, from Proto-Germanic *lunganjō.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /lɔŋ/

Noun

long (plural longe, diminutive longetjie)

lung

Chinese Pidgin English

Etymology

From English along. Equivalent to Cantonese 同 (tung⁴) grammatically.

Preposition

long

comitative case marker
benefactive case marker
ablative case marker

References

Umberto Ansaldo, Stephen Matthews, Geoff Smith (2010) “China Coast Pidgin: Texts and contexts”, in Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages‎^[13], volume 25, number 1, →DOI, pages 63-94

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch longe, also longen, longene, from Old Dutch *lungan, *lunganna, from Proto-Germanic *lunganjō.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /lɔŋ/
Hyphenation: long
Rhymes: -ɔŋ

Noun

long f or m (plural longen, diminutive longetje n)

lung

Usage notes

Traditionally feminine in the Netherlands, masculine in Belgium due to masculinisation.

Derived terms

Descendants

Afrikaans: long
Negerhollands: longe
→ Papiamentu: long (dated)
→ Sranan Tongo: lon
- → Caribbean Javanese: long

References

“long” in Woordenlijst Nederlandse Taal – Officiële Spelling, Nederlandse Taalunie. [the official spelling word list for the Dutch language]

Franco-Provençal

Etymology

Inherited from Latin longus.

Adjective

long (feminine longe, masculine plural longs, feminine plural longes) (ORB, broad)

long
Antonym: côrt

Derived terms

longior

References

long in DicoFranPro: Dictionnaire Français/Francoprovençal – on dicofranpro.llm.umontreal.ca
long in Lo trèsor Arpitan – on arpitan.eu

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French long, from longe, longue, feminine of lonc, lunc, from Latin longus. Cognate with English long, origin of German Chaiselongue.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /lɔ̃/, (in liaison) /lɔ̃.k‿/, (younger also) /lɔ̃.ɡ‿/
Rhymes: -ɔ̃
Homophone: longs

Adjective

long (feminine longue, masculine plural longs, feminine plural longues)

long
Synonyms: épais, grand, haut, large, profond

Antonyms: bas, court, étroit, mince

Derived terms

Noun

long m (plural longs)

length

Derived terms

Haitian Creole

Etymology

From French long (“long”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /lɔ̃ɡ/, [lɔ̃ŋ]

Adjective

long

long

Hlai

Etymology

From Proto-Hlai *C-luŋ (“big”), from Pre-Hlai *C-luŋ (Norquest, 2015). Compare Proto-Tai *ʰluəŋᴬ (“big”) (whence Thai หลวง (lǔuang)).

Pronunciation

(Standard Hlai, Baoding) IPA^(key): /loŋ˥˧/

Adjective

long

Synonyms

dhuax

Indonesian

Alternative forms

lung

Etymology

From Betawi [Term?], from Hokkien 烺 (lóng, lōng, “bright”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈlɔŋ]
Rhymes: -ɔŋ
Hyphenation: long

Noun

long

(dialectal) large firecracker

References

“long” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish long, from Latin (navis) longa (“long (ship)”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /l̪ˠɔŋ/
(Munster) IPA^(key): /l̪ˠuːŋ(ɡ)/, [l̪ˠũːŋ(ɡ)]; /l̪ˠɔŋɡ/
(Ulster) IPA^(key): /l̪ˠʌŋ/

Noun

long f (genitive singular loinge, nominative plural longa)

ship

Declension

Derived terms

bratlong (“flagship”)

Related terms

loingeas

References

Jamaican Creole

Etymology

From English long.

Adverb

long

For a lengthy duration (see usage notes).

Usage notes

Unlike in standard English, in Jamaican creole the adverb long, when it means for a lengthy duration, is used freely in questions and statements, whether positive or negative.

Malay

Etymology

Compare Khmer លោង (loong), Cham [louŋ], Thai โลง (loong).

Pronunciation

Noun

long (Jawi spelling لوڠ, plural long-long)

coffin; casket
Synonyms: larung, keranda

Mandarin

Romanization

long

Nonstandard spelling of lōng.
Nonstandard spelling of lóng.
Nonstandard spelling of lǒng.
Nonstandard spelling of lòng.

Usage notes

Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

Middle English

Alternative forms

longe (Late Middle English)
lang, lange (Early Middle English or Northern)

Etymology

From Old English lang, from Proto-West Germanic *lang, from Proto-Germanic *langaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dlongʰos.

The sense "due to" is from Old English ġelang, from Proto-West Germanic *galang.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /lɔːnɡ/, /lɔnɡ/
IPA^(key): /lanɡ/ (Northern)
IPA^(key): /loːnɡ/, /lunɡ/ (West Midlands)

Adjective

long (plural and weak singular longe, comparative lengere, superlative lengest)

Long; having great length.
1. Tall; having great height.
2. Elongated; with a length exceeding its width.
Long-lasting, lengthy; having great duration:
Distant or remote in time or (rarely) space.
Due to, dependent upon, attributable to.
(uncommon) Tardy, slow, overdue.
(uncommon) Eternal, perpetual; without end.

Usage notes

Especially in late Middle English, the analogical comparative longere and superlative longest are also seen.

Descendants

English: long
Geordie English: lang
Scots: lang
Yola: lhaung, long

References

“lō̆ng, adj.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
“lō̆ng, adj.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Mizo

Etymology

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *looŋ, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m-lawŋ.

Noun

long

boat

References

Grammar and Dictionary of the Lushai Language by J.H. Lorrain, Shillong 1898

Naga Pidgin

Etymology

Inherited from Assamese লং (loṅ), from Prakrit 𑀮𑀯𑀁𑀕 (lavaṃga), from Sanskrit लवङ्ग (lavaṅga).

Noun

long (plural longkhan)

clove

Norman

Alternative forms

laong (Guernsey)

Etymology

From Old French long, a back-formation from longe, longue, the feminine form of Early Old French lonc, from Latin longus.

Adjective

long m

(Jersey) long

Occitan

Etymology

From Latin longus.

Adjective

long m (feminine singular longa, masculine plural longs, feminine plural longas)

long

Related terms

alongar

Old English

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /lonɡ/, [loŋɡ]

Adjective

long

Alternative form of lang

Declension

Old French

Alternative forms

lonc, lunc (Anglo-Norman)

Etymology

Inherited from Latin longus.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈlunk/

Adjective

long m (oblique and nominative feminine singular longe or longue)

long (length, duration)

Declension

Descendants

French: long
Norman: long (Jersey), laong (Guernsey)

Old Frisian

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *lang, from Proto-Germanic *langaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dlongʰos. Cognates include Old English lang, Old Saxon lang and Old Dutch *lang.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈloŋɡ/

Adjective

long

long

Descendants

North Frisian: lung, lüng, (older also) long
Saterland Frisian: loang
West Frisian: long, lang

References

Bremmer, Rolf H. (2009) An Introduction to Old Frisian: History, Grammar, Reader, Glossary, Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, →ISBN

Old Irish

Etymology

Generally assumed to be a Latin loan, from (navis) longa, but Joseph Loth believed it to be from Proto-Celtic *longā; either way, cognate to Welsh llong.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /l͈oŋɡ/

Noun

long f (genitive lungae, nominative plural longa)

boat
ship

Inflection

Synonyms

bárc
cnairr
laídeng
scib

Descendants

Irish: long
Manx: lhong
Scottish Gaelic: long

Mutation

Pijin

Preposition

long

to; toward; into
in; at; near

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish long. Compare Welsh llong.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /l̪ˠoŋk/
(Lewis) IPA^(key): [l̪ˠãũŋk]

Noun

long f (genitive singular luinge, plural longan)

ship

Derived terms

References

Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English along.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /loŋ/, [lɔŋ], [lɔ(ː)]

Preposition

long

Used to mark spatial direct objects that something is oriented in the manner of, where English would use to, toward, into, or onto
- - These lights must rise in the sky to cast light toward the ground.
Used to mark spatial direct objects that something is oriented in the location of, where English would use in, at, on, or near
- - These lights must rise in the sky to cast light toward the ground.
Used to mark indirect objects, or direct objects of intransitive verbs, where English would use to
- - And God made a good speech to give strength to them. He said to them: "You varied things of the ocean, you must multiply and fill every part of the sea. And you birds, you must multiply on earth.
Used to mark spatial direct objects that something is oriented in the manner opposite of, extracted from, or away from, where English would use from or out of
- - Then God made a woman out of that bone he had taken from the man, and later he brought the woman to go to the man.
Used to mark temporal direct objects in which a condition lasts for a certain duration of time, where English would use for
- - And the Lord God said to the snake: "You did a bad deed, and so I have a powerful curse for you. You will have a great weight. The wight you carry will exceed that of any all animals. Now, and for all times, you will only walk on your stomach. And you will eat the dirt of the earth.
Used to mark a verb whose subject is the direct object of another verb, where English would use to or from
- - And God said to Adam: "You listened to what your woman said, and you ate a fruit of this tree which I have forbidden you from eating. And so I will now corrupt the earth, and food will not grow well enough. You will work very hard forever to make food grow in the ground.

Derived terms

long wanem

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

(Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [lawŋ͡m˧˧]
(Huế) IPA^(key): [lawŋ͡m˧˧] ~ [lɔŋ˧˧]
(Saigon) IPA^(key): [lawŋ͡m˧˧]

Etymology 1

Compare lung as in lung lay.

Adjective

long

loose
răng long ― loose tooth

Etymology 2

Sino-Vietnamese word from 龍 (“dragon”).

Noun

long

(only in compounds) dragon

Welsh

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /lɔŋ/

Noun

long

Soft mutation of llong.

Mutation

Yola

Adjective

long

Alternative form of lhaung

References

Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 116

long

long

English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Adjective

Usage notes

Synonyms

Antonyms

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Noun

Verb

Translations

Etymology 2

Adverb

Usage notes

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Etymology 3

Verb

Usage notes

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 4

Adjective

Verb

Etymology 5

Noun

Etymology 6

Verb

References

Further reading

Anagrams

Afrikaans

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Chinese Pidgin English

Etymology

Preposition

References

Dutch

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Usage notes

Derived terms

Descendants

References

Franco-Provençal

Etymology

Adjective

Derived terms

References

French

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adjective

Derived terms

Noun

Derived terms

Further reading

Haitian Creole

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adjective

Hlai

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adjective

Synonyms

Indonesian

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun