lengthy

[ lengk-thee, leng-, len- ]
See synonyms for: lengthylengthilylengthiness on Thesaurus.com

adjective,length·i·er, length·i·est.
  1. having or being of great length; very long: a lengthy journey.

  2. tediously verbose; very long; too long: a lengthy speech.

Origin of lengthy

1
An Americanism dating back to 1680–90; length + -y1

Other words from lengthy

  • length·i·ly, adverb
  • length·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lengthy in a sentence

  • Mr. Horbury looked quietly and lengthily at the boy, who stood white and sick before him.

    The Secret Glory | Arthur Machen
  • And here he coughed, coughed lengthily and in a manner which caused his aunt to look alarmed and anxious.

    Galusha the Magnificent | Joseph C. Lincoln
  • He lengthily accused Grousset of having stolen paper in order to print his journal; another of having lived with a mistress.

  • The timidity which judgment at first gave caused me pain, above all when it was necessary to speak in public a little lengthily.

  • "Ah, indeed a disaster," and she ran the brush lengthily down Gwendolen's hair.

    The New Warden | Mrs. David G. Ritchie

British Dictionary definitions for lengthy

lengthy

/ (ˈlɛŋkθɪ, ˈlɛŋθɪ) /


adjectivelengthier or lengthiest
  1. of relatively great or tiresome extent or duration

Derived forms of lengthy

  • lengthily, adverb
  • lengthiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012