26984 words

longer

19 definitions • 38 examples
1
continuing for a large amount of time:

Examples:

a long film/meeting
I've been waiting a long time.
It's a long time since I worked there.
Apparently the sessions are an hour long.
2
being a distance between two points that is more than average or usual:

Examples:

long hair
long legs
a long dress
There was a long queue at the post office.
We're still a long way from the station.
3
used to describe a piece of writing that has a lot of pages or words:

Examples:

a long letter/book/report
4
used to mean "(for) a long time", especially in questions and negative sentences:

Examples:

Have you been waiting (for) long?
I'm just writing a letter but it won't take long.
How long have you been in England?
Don't rush - take as long as you like.
We've been walking all day long.
I've known her longer than you have.
I won't be staying much longer.
5
a long period of time before or after something:

Examples:

She left the house long before I arrived.
It wasn't long before he was back with his family.
He did not join them until long after they had eaten.
6
used with the past participle or the -ing form of the verb to mean that a state or activity has continued for a long time:

Examples:

a long-awaited letter
long-serving employees
7
used to say that something must happen before something else can happen:

Examples:

I can come as long as I can leave by 4.00.
Bring your friends by all means - just so long as I know how many are coming.
8
to want something very much:

Examples:

She longed to see him again.
I'm longing for news of him.
9
written abbreviation for
10
written abbreviation for
11
being a distance between two points that is more than average or usual, or being of a particular length:

Examples:

There was a long line at the post office.
When I was young I wore my hair long.
We’re still a long way from the station (= a great distance).
12
A long piece of writing, such as a book or story, has many words:

Examples:

It’s a long book – over 600 pages.
13
Long underwear is long johns.
14
being an amount of time that is more than average or usual, or being of a particular amount of time:

Examples:

The days are longer in summer than in winter.
We had to wait a long time to see the doctor.
We went away for a long weekend in April (= Saturday, Sunday, and an extra day or days).
15
Something that is long-lost has not been seen for many years before appearing suddenly:

Examples:

A long-lost diary was discovered among his papers.
16
to want something very much:

Examples:

[ + to infinitive ] She longed to move out of the city.
17
used to describe the situation in which you buy and keep shares, etc. because you expect them to rise in value and make a profit:

Examples:

Nobody wants to be long on stocks over a weekend of economic uncertainty, because stocks may fall sharply in value when markets reopen on Monday.
18
to work more hours each day than people usually do:

Examples:

In spite of the New Deal, junior doctors are still working dangerously long hours.
19
to buy or keep shares, etc. because you expect their price to rise, so that you can make a profit:

Examples:

The prospects for domestic demand growth in the eurozone are not great, so why not go long on sterling, where the prospects for domestic demand growth are still looking optimistic?

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