lengthy

English

Etymology

From length +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

  • Audio (US):(file)

Adjective

lengthy (comparative lengthier, superlative lengthiest)

  1. 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.
    • 2011 July 19, Ella Davies, “Sticks insects survive one million years without sex”, in BBC‎[1]:
      They traced the ancient lineages of two species to reveal the insects' lengthy history of asexual reproduction.
    • 2020 June 7, Kate Bennett, “Michelle Obama to 2020 graduates: ‘For those of you who feel invisible: Please know that your story matters’”, in CNN‎[2]:
      “In light of the current state of our country, I struggled to find the right words of wisdom for you today,” Obama says in her lengthiest public remarks to date about the protests taking place in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
    • 2025 May 29, Kalyeena Makortoff, “US federal court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs”, in The Guardian‎[3], →ISSN:
      Without the help of the IEEPA, the Trump administration would have to take a slower approach, launching lengthier trade investigations and abiding by other trade laws to back the tariff threats.
  2. Speaking or writing at length; long-winded.
    • 1863, John Cumming, Driftwood, seaweed and fallen leaves, volume 1, page 92:
      If, in addition to being a lengthy preacher, he had also been a Rev. Mr. Mumbles or a Rev. Dr. Drone, the penance thus endured by his people would have been intolerably severe.

Derived terms

Translations

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