Extended vs. Long — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 21, 2024
Extended refers to something prolonged or stretched out in time or space, while long describes something with considerable length or duration. Both imply increased length, but extended often implies an addition or expansion.
Difference Between Extended and Long
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Extended typically refers to something that has been lengthened in time or space beyond its usual limits. It implies a process of stretching or prolonging, whether it's a physical object, a period, or a situation. Long, on the other hand, simply describes something that has considerable length or duration. It doesn't necessarily imply that something has been added or expanded, but rather that it inherently possesses a significant length or time span.
In usage, extended often carries a sense of modification or enhancement, such as an extended deadline, which means the original deadline has been pushed further. Conversely, long is more straightforward, indicating something of substantial length or duration, such as a long road, which describes the road's inherent characteristic.
Linguistically, extended is more dynamic and context-specific, often implying a deliberate action to increase length or time. Long is more static, simply describing an existing state of considerable length or duration.
Comparison Chart
Implication
Prolonged or stretched
Considerable length or duration
Context
Modification or enhancement
Inherent characteristic
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Usage Example
Extended vacation (made longer)
Long road (naturally long)
Linguistic Nature
Dynamic, context-specific
Static, straightforward
Temporal or Spatial
Can refer to both time and space
Can refer to both time and space
Compare with Definitions
Extended
Lengthened duration.
He took an extended leave of absence from work.
Long
Having considerable length.
The river is one of the longest in the country.
Extended
Expanded in scope or range.
The course offers extended topics beyond the basic curriculum.
Long
Of great duration.
They had a long wait at the airport.
Extended
Enlarged or broadened.
The company extended its services to international markets.
Long
Significant length or extent.
He wore a long coat to protect himself from the cold.
Extended
Stretched out in space.
The extended wingspan of the airplane allowed for greater stability.
Long
Extending or traveling a relatively great distance.
Extended
Stretched or pulled out
An extended telescope.
Long
Having relatively great height; tall.
Extended
Continued for a long period of time; protracted
Had an extended vacation in the Alps.
Long
Having the greater length of two or the greatest length of several
The long edge of the door.
Extended
Enlarged or broad in meaning, scope, or influence
An extended sense of the word honest.
Long
Of relatively great duration
A long time.
Extended
Simple past tense and past participle of extend
Long
Of a specified linear extent or duration
A mile long.
An hour long.
Extended
Longer in length or extension; elongated.
Long
Made up of many members or items
A long shopping list.
Extended
Stretched out or pulled out; expanded.
Long
Extending beyond an average or standard
A long game.
Extended
Lasting longer; protracted.
Long
Extending or landing beyond a given boundary, limit, or goal
Her first serve was long.
Extended
Having a large scope or range; extensive.
Long
Tediously protracted; lengthy
A long speech.
Extended
(of a typeface) Wider than usual.
Long
Concerned with distant issues; far-reaching
Took a long view of the geopolitical issues.
Extended
Relatively long in duration; tediously protracted;
A drawn-out argument
An extended discussion
A lengthy visit from her mother-in-law
A prolonged and bitter struggle
Protracted negotiations
Long
Involving substantial chance; risky
Long odds.
Extended
Fully extended or stretched forth;
An extended telescope
His extended legs reached almost across the small room
Refused to accept the extended hand
Long
Having an abundance or excess of
"politicians whose résumés are long on competence" (Margaret Garrard Warner).
Extended
Great in range or scope;
An extended vocabulary
Surgeons with extended experience
Extensive examples of picture writing
Suffered extensive damage
A wide selection
Long
Having a holding of a commodity or security in expectation of a rise in price
Long on soybeans.
Extended
Drawn out or made longer spatially;
Picasso's elongated Don Quixote
Lengthened skirts are fashionable this year
The extended airport runways can accommodate larger planes
A prolonged black line across the page
Long
(Linguistics) Having a comparatively great duration. Used of a vowel or consonant.
Extended
Beyond the literal or primary sense;
`hot off the press' shows an extended sense of `hot'
Long
(Grammar) Relating to or being the English speech sounds (ā, ē, ī, ō, ) that are tense vowels or diphthongs.
Extended
Large in spatial extent or range;
An extensive Roman settlement in northwest England
Extended farm lands
Long
Being of relatively great duration. Used of a syllable in quantitative prosody.
Extended
Prolonged in time.
The meeting was extended by an hour due to important discussions.
Long
During or for an extended period of time
The promotion was long due.
Long
At or to a considerable distance; far
She walked long past the end of the trail.
Long
Beyond a given boundary, limit, or goal
Hit the return long.
Long
For or throughout a specified period
They talked all night long.
Long
At a point of time distant from that referred to
That event took place long before we were born.
Long
Into or in a long position, as of a commodity market.
Long
A long time
This won't take long.
Long
(Linguistics) A long syllable, vowel, or consonant.
Long
One who acquires holdings in a security or commodity in expectation of a rise in price.
Long
A garment size for a tall person.
Long
Longs Trousers extending to the feet or ankles.
Long
To have an earnest, heartfelt desire, especially for something beyond reach.
Long
Having much distance from one terminating point on an object or an area to another terminating point usually applies to horizontal dimensions; see Usage Notes below.
It's a long way from the Earth to the Moon.
How long was your newborn baby?
Long
Having great duration.
The pyramids of Egypt have been around for a long time.
Long
Seemingly lasting a lot of time, because it is boring or tedious or tiring.
Long
Not short; tall.
Long
(finance) Possessing or owning stocks, bonds, commodities or other financial instruments with the aim of benefiting of the expected rise in their value.
I'm long in DuPont.
I have a long position in DuPont.
Long
(cricket) Of a fielding position, close to the boundary (or closer to the boundary than the equivalent short position).
Long
Landing beyond the baseline, and therefore deemed to be out.
That forehand is long.
Long
(gambling) Of betting odds, offering a very large return for a small wager.
Long
Occurring or coming after an extended interval; distant in time; far away.
Long
(archaic) On account of, because of.
Long
(linguistics) A long vowel.
Long
(prosody) A long syllable.
Long
(music) A note formerly used in music, one half the length of a large, twice that of a breve.
Long
(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.
A long is typically 64 bits in a 32-bit environment.
Long
(finance) An entity with a long position in an asset.
Every uptick made the longs cheer.
Long
(finance) A long-term investment.
Long
The long summer vacation at the English universities.
Long
Longitude
Long
To take a long position in.
Long
(intransitive) To await, aspire, desire greatly (something to occur or to be true).
She longed for him to come back.
Long
(archaic) To be appropriate to, to pertain or belong to.
Long
(obsolete) To belong.
Long
Over a great distance in space.
He threw the ball long.
Long
For a particular duration.
How long is it until the next bus arrives?
Long
For a long duration.
Will this interview take long?
Paris has long been considered one of the most cultured cities in the world.
She has known us as long as you
I haven't long to live.
Long
Drawn out in a line, or in the direction of length; protracted; extended; as, a long line; - opposed to short, and distinguished from broad or wide.
Long
Drawn out or extended in time; continued through a considerable tine, or to a great length; as, a long series of events; a long debate; a long drama; a long history; a long book.
Long
Slow in passing; causing weariness by length or duration; lingering; as, long hours of watching.
Long
Occurring or coming after an extended interval; distant in time; far away.
The we may us reserve both fresh and strongAgainst the tournament, which is not long.
Long
Having a length of the specified measure; of a specified length; as, a span long; a yard long; a mile long, that is, extended to the measure of a mile, etc.
Long
Far-reaching; extensive.
Long
Having a supply of stocks or goods; prepared for, or depending for a profit upon, advance in prices; as, long of cotton. Hence, the phrases: to be, or go, long of the market, to be on the long side of the market, to hold products or securities for a rise in price, esp. when bought on a margin. Contrasted to short.
Long
A note formerly used in music, one half the length of a large, twice that of a breve.
Long
A long sound, syllable, or vowel.
Long
The longest dimension; the greatest extent; - in the phrase, the long and the short of it, that is, the sum and substance of it.
Long
To a great extent in space; as, a long drawn out line.
Long
To a great extent in time; during a long time.
They that tarry long at the wine.
When the trumpet soundeth long.
Long
At a point of duration far distant, either prior or posterior; as, not long before; not long after; long before the foundation of Rome; long after the Conquest.
Long
Through the whole extent or duration.
The bird of dawning singeth all night long.
Long
Through an extent of time, more or less; - only in question; as, how long will you be gone?
Long
By means of; by the fault of; because of.
Long
To feel a strong or morbid desire or craving; to wish for something with eagerness; - followed by an infinitive, or by for or after.
I long to see you.
I have longed after thy precepts.
I have longed for thy salvation.
Nicomedes, longing for herrings, was supplied with fresh ones . . . at a great distance from the sea.
Long
To belong; - used with to, unto, or for.
The labor which that longeth unto me.
Long
A comparatively long time;
This won't take long
They haven't been gone long
Long
Desire strongly or persistently
Long
Primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified;
A long life
A long boring speech
A long time
A long friendship
A long game
Long ago
An hour long
Long
Primarily spatial sense; of relatively great or greater than average spatial extension or extension as specified;
A long road
A long distance
Contained many long words
Ten miles long
Long
Of relatively great height;
A race of long gaunt men
Looked out the long French windows
Long
Holding securities or commodities in expectation of a rise in prices;
Is long on coffee
A long position in gold
Long
Of speech sounds (especially vowels) of relatively long duration (as e.g. the English vowel sounds in `bate', `beat', `bite', `boat', `boot')
Long
Used of syllables that are unaccented or of relatively long duration
Long
Involving substantial risk;
Long odds
Long
(of memory) having greater than average range;
A long memory especially for insults
A tenacious memory
Long
Planning prudently for the future;
Large goals that required farsighted policies
Took a long view of the geopolitical issues
Long
Having or being more than normal or necessary:
Long on brains
In long supply
Long
For an extended time or at a distant time;
A promotion long overdue
Something long hoped for
His name has long been forgotten
Talked all night long
How long will you be gone?
Arrived long before he was expected
It is long after your bedtime
Long
For an extended distance
Long
Extended distance.
The long journey tired everyone out.
Long
Prolonged time span.
She wrote a long letter explaining her feelings.
Common Curiosities
What does extended mean?
Extended means something that has been prolonged or stretched out in time or space.
Does extended imply a change or modification?
Yes, extended often implies that something has been lengthened or expanded.
Is long more straightforward in its meaning?
Yes, long is more straightforward, simply indicating a considerable length or duration.
Can a road be described as long?
Yes, a road can be described as long if it has considerable length.
What does long mean?
Long means having considerable length or duration.
Can extended refer to both time and space?
Yes, extended can refer to both prolonged time and stretched out space.
Can long be used for periods of time?
Yes, long can describe periods of considerable duration.
Can long refer to both time and space?
Yes, long can describe both a lengthy period and a physical length.
Does long imply an inherent characteristic?
Yes, long describes something that naturally has a significant length or duration.
Can extended be used for physical objects?
Yes, extended can describe physical objects that have been stretched out or lengthened.
Is extended more context-specific than long?
Yes, extended often implies a specific action to increase length or time, making it more context-specific.
Can a vacation be extended?
Yes, a vacation can be extended if it is made longer than originally planned.
Does extended suggest a deliberate action?
Yes, extended often suggests a deliberate action to prolong or stretch out something.
Does long suggest a natural state?
Yes, long typically suggests a natural state of considerable length or duration.
Can an event be described as extended?
Yes, an event can be described as extended if its duration is prolonged beyond the usual time.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
