long run
- noun
- /lɔŋ rʌn/
- They're probably happier in the long run.
- important in the long run
- sustainable in the long run
- beneficial in the long run
The issue for China in the long run is this.
- The issue for China in the long run is this.
- But that, in the long run is not good for you.
- So I, I think in the long run they'll be two or three major players.
- I don't think that in the long run is going to be super healthy.
- But it just deteriorates you in the long run and deteriorates you.
- But in the long run, we have to pay a huge price.
- Well, the short run it's hunky Dory, but the long run it's Humpty Dumpty.
- And I, in the long run, at least I'm hopeful.
- And in the long run you become very unhappy with it.
- Well, now, what Marilyn told her readers was in the long run, that's the wrong thing to do.
Examples
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The play of the game is often more important in the long run than immediate results.
Academic text (1999) -
Immediately people won't like our reform, however, this is something we need in the long run.
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The issue for China in the long run is this.
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But in the long run, we have to pay a huge price.
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But I think in the long run, he'll probably thank you for that.
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Consistency of effort over the long run is everything.
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But in the long run, I'm going to save lives.
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What is urgent may not, in the long run, be important.
Fiction book (1992) -
But those arguments may not be good enough in the long run.
Academic text (2011) -
In the long run, investing in education will benefit society as a whole.
Synonyms
A period lasting many days or years
A period that lasts much longer than usual
A time that continues far into the future
A long difficult time that needs steady effort and patience
A long time when you think about future results
Antonyms
How Long
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning of 'long run' is directly compositional: 'long' (extended in time) modifies 'run' (a continuous spell or period), so a learner who knows both words can infer 'a long period of time' or 'ultimately'. This adjectival-noun duration pattern is common across languages and follows standard English composition, making it immediately understandable to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Long run comes from the image of a long race: after a long run you only see who wins at the end. That's why long run means 'a long period of time' or 'in the end', when the final result matters.