a minute longer

USAGE SUMMARY

"a minute longer" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to indicate the duration of time for an action or event. Example: "I waited a minute longer for the train to arrive, but it never came."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Food

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Not a minute longer".

The New York Times

Maybe, but not for a minute longer.

The New Yorker

He stood there a minute longer.

The New Yorker

"I can't last a minute longer".

The New York Times - Magazine

I couldn't stand it a minute longer.

The New York Times

Add butter and parsley and fry a minute longer.

The New York Times - Food

Add capers and parsley, stir and simmer a minute longer.

The New York Times - Food

Stir in demi-glace, cook a minute longer.

The New York Times - Food

We can't take this man a minute longer'.

The Guardian

He told his friend he couldn't stay a minute longer.

The New York Times

So Mr. Noroozi, a bearlike man with a soft voice, decided not stay a minute longer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a minute longer" when you want to emphasize a short, specific duration of time. For example, "Could you wait "a minute longer" for the download to complete?"

Common error

Avoid using "a minute longer" when you actually mean "in a minute", which refers to something happening very soon. For example, instead of saying "I'll be there "a minute longer"," say "I'll be there in a minute".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a minute longer" is as an adverbial phrase of duration, modifying verbs to specify the length of time an action is extended. It is frequently used to denote a small increment of time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Lifestyle

17%

Food

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Huffington Post

10%

Forbes

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a minute longer" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to denote a short extension of time. Ludwig's examples show it appearing frequently in News & Media, Lifestyle, and Food-related contexts. While generally neutral in register, its precise meaning is context-dependent, conveying a desire for brief delay, impatience, or even finality. Remember to distinguish its meaning from similar-sounding phrases such as 'in a minute', which refers to something about to happen, rather than an extension.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

One minute longer

This is a more explicit and less idiomatic way of expressing the same duration.

Just a minute more

This adds emphasis on the small amount of extra time being requested or taken.

A moment more

This alternative is shorter and can be more poetic or dramatic, emphasizing the brevity of the additional time.

For an extra minute

This alternative uses a prepositional phrase to specify the additional duration.

A little longer

This alternative is less precise, suggesting a slightly indefinite extension of time.

A bit longer

Similar to 'a little longer', this is slightly more informal.

Extend by a minute

This phrasing emphasizes the action of prolonging something by a specific duration.

A short while longer

More ambiguous than specifying 'a minute'; suitable when the exact duration is not important.

A brief extension

More formal; refers to a short increase in duration, not specifically a minute.

Slightly longer

This alternative does not specify any unit of time. It simply implies that it's taking more time.

FAQs

How can I use "a minute longer" in a sentence?

You can use "a minute longer" to indicate an extension of time, like "Could you stay "a minute longer"?" or "Cook the pasta "a minute longer" for a softer texture".

What is a more formal way to say "a minute longer"?

While "a minute longer" is suitable for most contexts, you could use phrases like "extend by one minute" or "prolong for an additional minute" in more formal settings.

What can I say instead of "a minute longer" when the exact duration is not important?

If the exact duration isn't crucial, consider using phrases such as "a little longer", "a bit longer", or "a short while longer".

Is there a difference between 'a minute longer' and 'another minute'?

While similar, "a minute longer" implies an extension of something already happening. "Another minute" simply states an additional minute. For example, "Let's wait "a minute longer" to see if she arrives" versus "We need another minute to finish the game".