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Glite Dictionary
long in coming

long in coming

2 6.9
Happening after a long delay
  • idiom
translation icon : tardío
  • This moment has been long in coming.

Examples

  • But official recognition of the situation's seriousness and the long-term threat posed by these changes was still piecemeal and long in coming.

    Academic text (1996)

  • I have waited and waited for my turn, and it was long in coming.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The solution was not long in coming.

    Academic text (2012)

  • May that day be long in coming.

    Blog text (4)

  • The consequences were not long in coming.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • But by the time he returned, it was obvious that independence would not be long in coming.

    Academic text (1992)

  • The explanation wasn't long in coming.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "Yaru's reply was long in coming."

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The changes to the law have been long in coming, but they are finally here.

  • After years of anticipation, the new features are long in coming and well worth the wait.

Synonyms

late
vslong in coming
∞ 1.0

Arriving after the usual or expected time

highlights a long delay rather than a simple short delay
belated
vslong in coming
18 4.4

Happening or arriving later than expected

is used for things that happen only after a long wait
delayed
vslong in coming
1 1.3

Slower than usual in development or learning

stresses a long, considerable wait before something appears

Antonyms

immediate
570 1.3

Happening at once without any delay

How Delayed

overdue
103 2.7
long in coming
2 6.9
late
∞ 1.0
on time
321 1.0

Surface Forms

long in coming positive

Morphology

long + in + coming

The phrase transparently combines 'long' (for an extended time) with 'coming' (arrival), with 'in' marking the relation, so the meaning 'the arrival took a long time' is directly inferable from the parts. This compositional pattern is common and has clear cross-linguistic parallels, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should understand it.

Etymology

The adjective long in coming paints a simple picture: something is long while it is coming, like waiting a long time at a station for an expected train. So, it means 'arriving after a long delay'.