long program

IPA/ˌlɒŋ ˈprəʊ.ɡræm/
IPA/ˌlɑːŋ ˈproʊ.ɡræm/

long program — noun

1. A television or radio show that lasts for a long time, often filling most of a s

1.nounB1
Definition

A television or radio show that lasts for a long time, often filling most of a station's broadcast schedule.

Example

Pim recorded a long program about the Amazon rainforest to watch on Saturday.

long program + about + topic

The local radio station played a long program of folk music from five until eight.

collocation: long program of [music/genre]

Common collocations
  • air a long program
  • broadcast a long program
  • watch a long program
  • record a long program
  • listen to a long program
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

long program + of/about + noun phrase

Usage Note

This is the US spelling. In British English, the equivalent form is long programme.

Common Mistakes

I have a long program at work today.
I have a long schedule at work today.
Long program refers to television or radio broadcasts, not to a personal day plan.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three alternatives describe a television or radio show that lasts a long time, but they differ in nuance. Long broadcast focuses on the act of transmission itself and is often used in formal news contexts ('the president's long broadcast to the nation'). Extended program suggests that the show has been deliberately made longer than its usual length, often for a special event. Marathon program is informal and colourful, suggesting an exceptionally long event that tests the audience's endurance, such as a charity telethon or a 24-hour music countdown. In everyday conversation, long program is the most neutral choice and the simplest for learners.

long broadcastextended programmarathon program

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • long program on TV
  • long program on the radio

Prepositions

Etymology

GermanicOld EnglishGreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The adjective long comes from Old English lang, from Proto-Germanic *langaz. The noun program comes from Greek programma meaning 'a written public notice', via Latin programma and French programme. The compound long program (or long programme) came into use in the 20th century with the rise of broadcast media.