Long vs. Lengthy — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 6, 2024
Long refers to the overall measurement or duration, applicable to various contexts; lengthy specifically describes something extended or protracted, often with a negative connotation of being tediously long.
Difference Between Long and Lengthy
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Long" is a versatile term that can describe both physical and temporal dimensions, such as a long road or a long meeting. Whereas "lengthy" is typically used to describe extended durations or documents, suggesting they are longer than necessary or expected.
In literature, a long novel might simply indicate its substantial number of pages, suitable for detailed storytelling. On the other hand, a lengthy novel might imply that the text is overly detailed or drags on more than it should, possibly affecting reader engagement.
When it comes to discussions or speeches, someone may prefer a long discussion if they seek thorough exploration of a topic. Conversely, a lengthy discussion might be viewed as unnecessarily drawn out, potentially leading to disinterest or frustration among participants.
In legal or administrative contexts, documents can be long due to the requirement of detailed information covering all bases. Whereas, lengthy documents in these contexts might be criticized for being overly complex and hard to navigate, possibly hindering rather than helping the process.
The perception of time is also affected; a long vacation is usually something positive, anticipated. In contrast, a lengthy wait at an office or a delay is often seen negatively, as it suggests a wastage of time or inefficiency.
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Comparison Chart
General Usage
Neutral, merely factual
Often negative
Contexts
Time, distance, objects
Processes, documents
Perception
Can be positive or neutral
Implies excess, tediousness
Examples
Long road, long duration
Lengthy meeting, lengthy procedure
Connotation
Extended in space/time without excess
Extended to the point of being too much
Compare with Definitions
Long
Being more than usual or expected.
The meeting was longer than we anticipated.
Lengthy
Involving considerable time to complete.
She undertook a lengthy process of restoration.
Long
Lasting or taking a large amount of time.
It was a long movie, but it was worth every minute.
Lengthy
Especially extended in duration.
The lengthy seminar lasted the whole day.
Long
Involving a large extent of time or space.
They went on a long journey across the continent.
Lengthy
Often implies a negative aspect due to duration.
We endured a lengthy delay at the airport.
Long
Extending a great distance from end to end.
The long hallway seemed to stretch endlessly.
Lengthy
Tending to be too long; unnecessarily extended.
His lengthy explanation was confusing rather than helpful.
Long
Used to emphasize a significant amount or degree.
The long list of requirements was daunting.
Lengthy
Full of details or complexities.
The document was lengthy and required careful study.
Long
Extending or traveling a relatively great distance.
Lengthy
Of considerable length, especially in time; extended
A lengthy convalescence.
Long
Having relatively great height; tall.
Lengthy
Tediously long; drawn-out
A lengthy explanation.
Long
Having the greater length of two or the greatest length of several
The long edge of the door.
Lengthy
Having length; long and overextended, especially in time rather than dimension.
A lengthy text
A lengthy discussion
A laborious and lengthy process
She died last night after a lengthy illness.
They received lengthy prison terms.
Long
Of relatively great duration
A long time.
Lengthy
Speaking or writing at length; long-winded.
Long
Of a specified linear extent or duration
A mile long.
An hour long.
Lengthy
Having length; rather long or too long; prolix; not brief; - said chiefly of discourses, writings, and the like.
Long
Made up of many members or items
A long shopping list.
Lengthy
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
Extending beyond an average or standard
A long game.
Long
Extending or landing beyond a given boundary, limit, or goal
Her first serve was long.
Long
Tediously protracted; lengthy
A long speech.
Long
Concerned with distant issues; far-reaching
Took a long view of the geopolitical issues.
Long
Involving substantial chance; risky
Long odds.
Long
Having an abundance or excess of
"politicians whose résumés are long on competence" (Margaret Garrard Warner).
Long
Having a holding of a commodity or security in expectation of a rise in price
Long on soybeans.
Long
(Linguistics) Having a comparatively great duration. Used of a vowel or consonant.
Long
(Grammar) Relating to or being the English speech sounds (ā, ē, ī, ō, ) that are tense vowels or diphthongs.
Long
Being of relatively great duration. Used of a syllable in quantitative prosody.
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
Common Curiosities
Is "lengthy" ever used positively?
Rarely, as it typically suggests excess and tediousness.
Can "long" have a positive meaning?
Yes, in many contexts, such as "a long vacation," it has a positive connotation.
What contexts is "long" used in?
Long can be used in any context involving physical or temporal measurements.
What is an example of a lengthy document?
Legal contracts can often be lengthy, filled with extensive and sometimes unnecessary clauses.
Why does "lengthy" often carry a negative connotation?
Because it implies something is longer than necessary, often causing inconvenience or boredom.
Can something be both long and not lengthy?
Yes, such as a long road that simply describes its measure without implying excess.
What would be a long film versus a lengthy film?
A long film simply has a large runtime, a lengthy film feels prolonged past comfort.
What indicates a lengthy explanation might be ineffective?
If the explanation causes confusion or loses the audience’s attention.
Does "lengthy" apply to physical objects as well?
Rarely, as it is mostly used for durations or procedural descriptions.
When is "lengthy" typically used?
Lengthy is often used when referring to time-consuming or overly extended things.
How do perceptions of "long" and "lengthy" differ in everyday conversation?
"Long" is neutral; "lengthy" usually has undertones of being overly prolonged.
What role does "long" play in time descriptions?
It's used to describe extended periods, like long centuries or long hours.
How does the use of "long" in sports differ from "lengthy"?
In sports, a long game refers to duration, while a lengthy game might suggest delays or interruptions.
In what way does "long" describe physical objects?
Long can describe anything from a long table to a long road, emphasizing size.
What's the difference in using "long" and "lengthy" in academic writing?
"Long" may refer to a comprehensive study, "lengthy" might criticize an overly wordy paper.
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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
