long
/lɒŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [lˈɔŋ] /lɔːŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [lˈɔŋ] /ˈlȯŋ/ (ame, mw) · [lˈɔŋ] /lɑːŋ/ (ame, ipa)
long — adjective
- longpositive
- longercomparative
- longestsuperlative
1. lasting or continuing for more time than is usual or expected
lasting or continuing for more time than is usual or expected
The film was so long that Hugo fell asleep before the end.
long as adjective describing duration
Sora had to wait a long time for the bus to arrive in the rain.
a long time: common noun phrase for duration
After a long meeting, the team finally agreed on a plan.
The winter nights are long and dark in northern Europe.
- short
opposite in duration
常見錯誤
2. measuring a great amount from one end to the other; covering a large distance
measuring a great amount from one end to the other; covering a large distance
Adaeze has long hair that reaches all the way to her waist.
long describing physical length of body part
The new bridge across the river is nearly two kilometres long.
Mira walked a long way to reach the village before dark.
The queue for the tickets stretched along a long corridor.
- short
opposite in distance or length
常見錯誤
3. containing many pages, words, or separate items
containing many pages, words, or separate items
The report was too long for Jason to finish before the deadline.
Sahil wrote a long letter to his grandmother about his new life in Japan.
long letter: writing with many words
The long list of names filled two whole pages of the notebook.
Christopher wrote a long essay on climate change for his geography class.
long — adverb
1. over a stretch of time that is more than usual, common when people ask about dur
over a stretch of time that is more than usual, common when people ask about duration or say something is not the case
Have you been waiting long for the doctor to see you?
question: been waiting long
Dewi has not lived here long; she moved here last summer.
negative: not ... long
How long does it take to drive from London to Manchester?
The meeting did not last long because everyone agreed quickly.
- for a long time
preferred in positive statements; more natural in everyday speech
- for ages
informal, emphatic version ('I have not seen you for ages')
用法筆記
In questions and negative statements, 'long' alone is natural ('Have you been waiting long?'). In positive statements, native speakers prefer 'for a long time' ('I waited for a long time') except in literary or formal contexts.
常見錯誤
2. far in time from a particular moment, either before it or after it
far in time from a particular moment, either before it or after it
The concert ended long after midnight, so Benjamin took a taxi home.
long after + time reference
The old temple was built long before the city grew around it.
long before + event
All that happened long ago, when my grandmother was still a child.
The castle was built long before the invention of gunpowder.
- far
used similarly in 'far before/after' but less common than 'long before/after'
- shortly
opposite meaning: a short time before or after ('shortly after midnight')
用法筆記
This sense requires a following word such as 'before', 'after', or 'ago' to complete the time reference. Common patterns: long before/after + noun or clause; long ago.
常見錯誤
3. placed with a hyphen before a past participle or -ing form to say that a situati
placed with a hyphen before a past participle or -ing form to say that a situation has lasted for many years or a very great while
The long-awaited film finally opened at cinemas across the city.
long + past participle compound: long-awaited
Adina works for a long-established company in the city centre.
long-established: compound adjective
Their friendship was long-lasting and survived many difficulties.
The long-running dispute between the two families finally ended this year.
用法筆記
Long combines with a hyphen and a past participle (long-awaited, long-established, long-forgotten) or -ing form (long-lasting, long-running, long-standing) to create compound adjectives. These are common in formal and written English.
常見錯誤
4. only if; on the condition that something else happens first
only if; on the condition that something else happens first
You can borrow my bicycle as long as you return it by the evening.
As long as Élise finishes her homework, she can watch television.
as long as + clause setting a condition
The picnic will go ahead as long as the weather stays dry.
As long as Zayd practises every day, he will improve his piano skills.
- provided that
more formal than 'as long as'; common in official or legal contexts
- if
simpler equivalent, but 'as long as' emphasises the condition more strongly
用法筆記
Functions as a conjunction linking two clauses. The clause with 'as long as' states the condition that must be met for the other clause to be true. It is often used to give permission or make promises.
常見錯誤
long — verb
- longpresent simple I / you / we / they
- longs3rd person singular
- longing-ing form
- longedpast simple
1. to desire something very strongly, especially something that is difficult or imp
to desire something very strongly, especially something that is difficult or impossible to obtain
After years abroad, Sahil longed for the taste of his mother's cooking.
long for + object of desire
The children longed to see the snow for the very first time.
long to + infinitive
Beatriz longed for the peaceful days of her childhood in the countryside.
Christopher longed for the courage to speak in front of the crowd.
文法句型
long for something
long to do something
用法筆記
Formal and literary register. In everyday conversation, 'want', 'would love', or 'wish' are more natural. Used in two patterns: 'long for + noun phrase' and 'long to + infinitive'. The related noun form is 'longing'.
常見錯誤
long — noun
1. longitude shown in short form when writing down map positions or directions
longitude shown in short form when writing down map positions or directions
The ship's position was marked as 30°N, 122°E (long) on the chart.
written abbreviation used in coordinates
The map showed the coordinates for latitude and long at the bottom corner.
The GPS device displayed lat 51.5° and long -0.1° for the city centre.
Every point on Earth has a unique pair of latitude and long coordinates.
用法筆記
Used only in writing, particularly in geographical coordinates, tables, and map references. In speech, the full word 'longitude' is always pronounced. The plural 'longs' is also found in written data.