at length
at length — idiom
1. continuing for a considerable amount of time, especially when someone is talking
continuing for a considerable amount of time, especially when someone is talking, explaining, or writing about something
Brandon and his father spoke at length about which universities had the best science programmes.
speak at length + about [topic]
The two friends sat on the park bench and talked at length about their schooldays.
Ingrid wrote at length in her diary about the strange events of a rainy Tuesday.
The town council discussed the housing plan at length before calling the midnight vote.
Beatriz answered at length, her voice growing softer as she reached the difficult part of the story.
- for a long time
more common in everyday speech; at length is slightly more formal
- at great length
adds emphasis, suggesting the duration was notably long
文法句型
speak/talk/discuss/write/chat + at length
2. finally happening after a period of waiting, searching, or sustained effort — us
finally happening after a period of waiting, searching, or sustained effort — used when the delay felt long and the outcome was uncertain or hoped for
At length, the bus appeared around the corner after nearly an hour of waiting.
at length, + [event] — sentence-initial for delayed occurrence
The doctor came out at length and told Sana the surgery had gone well.
Otis searched every drawer in the kitchen and at length found the missing key.
At length, the long winter ended and the first green shoots appeared in the garden.
At length, Emre finished the marathon, his legs shaking but his face full of joy.
- finally
the everyday choice; at length is more literary or formal
- eventually
more neutral; at length carries a stronger sense that the wait felt long
- at last
very close in meaning but more common in speech than in writing
- after a while
less formal, suggests a shorter wait than at length
文法句型
at length, + [event happened]
[effort/wait] + and at length + [result]
用法筆記
Covers any situation where something happens after a delay — whether the delay is passive waiting (a bus, test results), active searching (lost keys), or sustained struggle (a marathon). More literary than 'finally' or 'at last'.
3. going into all the important parts of a subject so that nothing significant is s
going into all the important parts of a subject so that nothing significant is skipped — the focus is on completeness, not on how long it takes
Asher explained his volcano experiment at length to the group of wide-eyed younger students.
explain at length + to [audience]
The travel guide describes at length every temple and market in the old city.
Nellie set out her case at length in a three-page letter to the planning committee.
Professor Adisa answered the question at length, using climate data from three different continents.
Jisoo wrote at length about learning Turkish from zero during a year in Istanbul.
- in detail
more common in everyday speech; at length sounds more formal or written
- thoroughly
single-word alternative; at length implies the explanation took time as well as care
- comprehensively
stresses completeness; at length adds a sense of duration to the thoroughness
文法句型
explain/describe/write/set out + at length
用法筆記
Most often used with verbs of explaining or describing. Not typically used with action verbs.