Collocations for "long"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "long" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
long
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- have not seen you for such a long time!
- has been a long time since
- a long (long) time ago
- is not long enough (time) to
- is [two] inches long
- is a long [movie, book]
- have a long [drive, haul] ahead of us
- have a long [time, way to go] before
- long, [straight, curly, wavy] hair
- long [fingers, ears, feet, hair]
- a long [garden, room, table, wire]
- is long enough to [reach, stretch] (to)
- long enough to [play, seat eight]
- long enough for [eight]
- is not quite long enough [to, for]
- (a list) longer than your arm
- has a long history in [production, agriculture]
- lived a long (and happy) life
- a long period of [recession, unrest]
- has been [working, putting in] long hours
- [was, has been] a long [week, day]
- in the long [term, run]
- run long distance
- [can, able to] run long distances (without)
- (I know) it's a long shot, but
- is a long way [down, to]
- go the long way around
- UK: long trousers
- long pants
- long and skinny
- are in it for the long haul
- am playing the long game
- [sent away, went to jail] for a long stretch
- to [make, cut] a long story short
- is long overdue
- long may it continue
- have not seen you for so long!
- it won't be long [now, until]
- I won't be (very) long
- not long to go [before, until]
- not long now!
- not much longer
- [took, went on] (for) too long
- takes too long to [read, make, start up, sync]
- [this, it] won't take long
- can't [take it, wait] any longer
- is no longer
- not any longer
- how long have you [lived here, been married]?
- how long is [this movie, the coastline]?
- [hit, threw] the [ball, pass] long
- I have long [thought, suspected]
- long to [see, hear, return to, have, feel, know]
- long to be with you (again)
- I am longing to [see, be with] you
- longed [my entire life, for years and years] to
- longed for her to [kiss, phone] him
- longing for [home, his embrace, the day]
- long in [vain, misery, desperation]
- longed [passionately, ardently, desperately]
- [prayed, cried, hoped] and longed
- the long and the short of it is
- won't be [away, gone, on the phone] for long
- will [be there, arrive] before long
- [two, three] longs and [two] shorts
- finance: [sell, trade, hold on to] longs
- long to [see, hear, return to, have, feel, know]
- the long and the short of it is
- have not seen you for so long!
- long to be with you (again)
- have not seen you for such a long time!
- won't be [away, gone, on the phone] for long
- will [be there, arrive] before long
- I am longing to [see, be with] you
- has been a long time since
- [two, three] longs and [two] shorts
- longed [my entire life, for years and years] to
- a long (long) time ago
- finance: [sell, trade, hold on to] longs
- longed for her to [kiss, phone] him
- is not long enough (time) to
- will [finish, die] before long
- longing for [home, his embrace, the day]
- it won't be long [now, until]
- long in [vain, misery, desperation]
- I won't be (very) long
- longed [passionately, ardently, desperately]
- not long to go [before, until]
- [prayed, cried, hoped] and longed
- not long now!
- not much longer
- [took, went on] (for) too long
- takes too long to [read, make, start up, sync]
- [this, it] won't take long
- can't [take it, wait] any longer
- is no longer
- not any longer
- how long have you [lived here, been married]?
- how long is [this movie, the coastline]?
- is [two] inches long
- is a long [movie, book]
- have a long [drive, haul] ahead of us
- have a long [time, way to go] before
- long, [straight, curly, wavy] hair
- long [fingers, ears, feet, hair]
- a long [garden, room, table, wire]
- is long enough to [reach, stretch] (to)
- long enough to [play, seat eight]
- long enough for [eight]
- is not quite long enough [to, for]
- (a list) longer than your arm
- has a long history in [production, agriculture]
- lived a long (and happy) life
- a long period of [recession, unrest]
- has been [working, putting in] long hours
- [was, has been] a long [week, day]
- in the long [term, run]
- the long-term consequences
- long-term [parking, storage, care]
- a long-standing [debate, rivalry, friendship, agreement]
- his long-suffering [wife, parents]
- long-distance [calls, runner]
- run long distance
- [can, able to] run long distances (without)
- (I know) it's a long shot, but
- is a long way [down, to]
- go the long way around
- long-sleeve shirt
- UK: long trousers
- long pants
- long-range [transportation, rifle]
- long and skinny
- are in it for the long haul
- am playing the long game
- [sent away, went to jail] for a long stretch
- long-lost [brother, manuscript]
- to [make, cut] a long story short
- [hit, threw] the [ball, pass] long
- is long overdue
- I have long [thought, suspected]
- long may it continue
'long' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
battle
- collapse
- concentrate
- cool
- die
- drag
- fight
- follow
- fruit
- have
- hide
- last
- live
- load
- matter
- point
- reach
- relax
- rest
- seem
- shower
- take
- wait
- wind
- two
- before
- addition
- agreement
- arm
- August
- bit
- bow
- bridge
- character
- chase
- chat
- class
- clear
- climb
- conversation
- crush
- day
- decision
- divide
- dog
- dress
- drive
- email
- embrace
- face