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Glite Dictionary
long time

long time

∞ 1.0
A period lasting many days or years
  • noun
translation icon : mucho tiempo
  • He finally returned home after being away for a long time.
  • take a long time
  • a long time ago
  • a very long time

Like, that sounds like a really long time to be doing this.

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Examples

  • It's been such a long time, Nate.

    The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

  • Look, this has been coming for a long time now.

    Bloodletting (1997)

  • And it's been a long time since I read anything about this.

  • Like, that sounds like a really long time to be doing this.

    Dr Sheen Gurrib

  • My first night out in such a long time.

    Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (2012)

  • You know you cannot study for a long time without physical fitness.

    Academic text (2015)

  • I've been in this business a long time.

    Thunderbolts* (2025)

  • The reunification process will take a long time, possibly several decades or more.

    Academic text (1999)

  • He's been a friend of ours for a long time.

    Jack Be Nimble (2022)

  • It has been such a long time since we took a vacation together.

Synonyms

a long time
vslong time
∞ 1.0

A period that lasts much longer than usual

is the same expression but without the initial article
age
vslong time
332 7.7

A very long time

means a significant duration but not the vague, indefinite sense
eternity
vslong time
  • Informal
63 4.7

A time that feels very long when you are waiting

refers to long but finite periods, not endless duration
great deal of time
vslong time
19 2.8

A long time spent doing something

emphasizes prolonged duration rather than focus on size
durrance
vslong time
  • Archaic
9.9

An old word for the length of time something lasts

is the common modern phrase for prolonged duration
years
vslong time
2.6

A very long time that feels much longer than usual

covers long periods but often less extreme or emotional

Antonyms

short
∞ 1.0

Not long in distance, height, or time

How Long

age
332 7.7
long time
∞ 1.0
while
∞ 1.0
moment
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

long time singular
long times plural

Morphology

long + time

The noun phrase 'long time' is directly compositional: 'long' (extended in duration) modifies 'time' (a period), so the meaning 'a prolonged period' is immediately derivable from the constituents. This adjective+noun pattern and the concept it expresses are cross-linguistically common and therefore readily understood by a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

The expression long time paints a simple picture: long means stretched out and time means hours or days, so imagine a very long road of days to walk. That's why it means 'a long period'.