Lengthy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈleŋ(k)-thē/

Meaning & Definition of Lengthy

Lengthy (adjective)

  1. protracted excessively, overlong
  2. extended, long

Lengthy (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. of great extent from end to end

    "she used a lengthy piece of rope to tie her dog to a tree"

    similar: elongate, extended, king-size, long
    related: extensive, far-reaching, longish, outstretched, oblong, rectangular, big, biggish, considerable, hefty, hulking, jumbo, large, largish, overscale, oversize, sizable, substantial, super
    opposite: brief, curt, short, shortish
    near: abbreviated, abridged, curtailed, diminished, shortened, bitty, diminutive, little, miniature, minute, puny, small, smallish, teeny, tiny, undersized, wee

  2. lasting for a considerable time

    "the store manager gives new associates a lengthy sermon on the evils of shoplifting"

    similar: extended, far, great, long, long-drawn-out, long-lived, long-term, marathon
    related: aeonian, endless, everlasting, interminable, persistent, longish, overlong, prolonged, protracted, permanent, all-day, all-night, multiday, multiyear
    opposite: brief, little, mini, short, shortish, short-lived, short-term
    near: abrupt, sudden, abbreviated, condensed, curtailed, shortened, ephemeral, fleeting, momentary, transient, transitory, impermanent, short-range

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Lengthy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Lengthy:

elongate, extended, king-size, long, far, great, long-drawn-out, long-lived, long-term, marathon

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Lengthy

Words with the opposite meaning of Lengthy:

brief, curt, short, shortish, little, mini, short-lived, short-term

Related Words for Lengthy

extensive, far-reaching, longish, outstretched, oblong, rectangular, big, biggish, considerable, hefty, hulking, jumbo, large, largish, overscale, oversize, sizable, substantial, super, aeonian, endless, everlasting, interminable, persistent, overlong, prolonged, protracted, permanent, all-day, all-night

Near Antonyms of Lengthy

abbreviated, abridged, curtailed, diminished, shortened, bitty, diminutive, miniature, minute, puny, small, smallish, teeny, tiny, undersized, wee, abrupt, sudden, condensed, ephemeral, fleeting, momentary, transient, transitory, impermanent, short-range

Word Forms of Lengthy

Inflections: lengthier, lengthiest

Derived words: lengthily (adverb), lengthiness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Lengthy

First known use: 1689

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Lengthy

Frequently Asked Questions about Lengthy

What does "Lengthy" mean?

"Lengthy" means protracted excessively, overlong. As an adjective, it is defined as: protracted excessively, overlong. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Lengthy"?

Other words for "Lengthy" include elongate, extended, king-size, long, far, great, long-drawn-out and long-lived. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Lengthy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Lengthy"?

There are 42 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Lengthy". Common alternatives include elongate, extended, king-size, long, far, great, long-drawn-out, long-lived, long-term and marathon.

What is the opposite of "Lengthy"?

Antonyms of "Lengthy" include brief, curt, short, shortish, little, mini, short-lived and short-term. Near antonyms include abbreviated, abridged, curtailed and diminished.

How do you use "Lengthy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Lengthy" in a sentence: "she used a lengthy piece of rope to tie her dog to a tree"; "the store manager gives new associates a lengthy sermon on the evils of shoplifting".

Is "Lengthy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Lengthy" is an adjective.

Is "Lengthy" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Lengthy" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Lengthy"?

"Lengthy" is pronounced /ˈleŋ(k)-thē/.