after a lengthy wait

USAGE SUMMARY

"after a lengthy wait" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a situation where something happened after a long period of time. For example: After a lengthy wait, I finally received the package I ordered.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Woods said his sore back grew worse as play continued, after a lengthy wait to begin his round.

The New York Times - Sports

After a lengthy wait, we were admitted to a room filled with many people from all over the world.

The Guardian - Opinion

After all, the animal had made a reasonable decision to move on to the next stop on the restaurant wheel after a lengthy wait yielded nothing.

Science Magazine

After a lengthy wait on the 18th fairway he could be heard complaining, "You wait 30 minutes.

Los Angeles Times

Consider the case of two-year old Malyia Jeffers, whose life will never be the same after a lengthy wait in a California emergency room.

Huffington Post

After a lengthy wait, De Laurentiis finally received a call from Harris telling him he had finished the sequel to The Silence of the Lambs and De Laurentiis purchased the rights for a record $10 million.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

However, the final twist came when Khan, after numerous warnings, lost another point and, following a lengthy wait to hear the decision, the loss of his titles was confirmed.

BBC

And they sensed a lengthy wait for permission to do renovations, which they preferred to have completed before moving in.

The New York Times

Even when refugees get on American soil, they face a lengthy wait to be cleared for asylum.

The Guardian

Once again Ramsey had a lengthy wait to take his penalty.

BBC

If you need to see a specialist, this means a referral, another long journey and probably a lengthy wait.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "after a lengthy wait" to clearly communicate that an action or event occurred following a significant period of anticipation or delay. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, providing clarity and emphasis on the duration of the wait.

Common error

Avoid using "after a lengthy wait" when the wait was, in reality, quite short or insignificant. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic or insincere. Make sure to adapt the length of the "wait" according to the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after a lengthy wait" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates the temporal context in which an event occurred, specifically highlighting that it took place following a considerable period of time. The Examples provided by Ludwig confirm this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "after a lengthy wait" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to emphasize that an event occurred following a significant period of waiting. According to Ludwig, it serves to highlight the duration of the waiting period and can convey a sense of anticipation or frustration. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, but also appears in scientific and general writing. While acceptable in various contexts, it's important to ensure the "wait" was genuinely significant. Alternatives like "following a long delay" or "after considerable delay" can offer slight variations in tone or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following a long delay

Replaces "lengthy wait" with "long delay", changing the noun but maintaining the sense of duration.

after considerable delay

Substitutes "lengthy" with "considerable", which emphasizes the perceived significance of the delay.

after a protracted period

Replaces "lengthy wait" with a more formal "protracted period", suitable for academic or legal contexts.

after a significant waiting time

Rephrases "lengthy wait" to explicitly mention "waiting time", clarifying the nature of the delay.

following an extended delay

Changes "after" to "following" and "lengthy" to "extended", offering a slight variation in phrasing.

subsequent to a long pause

Uses "subsequent to" instead of "after" and "long pause" for "lengthy wait", introducing a more formal tone.

eventually

Conveys that something happened at the end, without saying how long.

in the end

Conveys that something happened after some period of time. Simpler and less specific

at long last

Emphasizes the relief or satisfaction that the waiting is over.

after what seemed like forever

Adds hyperbole to emphasize the length of the wait from a subjective point of view.

FAQs

How can I use "after a lengthy wait" in a sentence?

You can use "after a lengthy wait" to describe something that happens following a considerable amount of time. For example: "After a lengthy wait, the doctor finally called my name".

What are some alternatives to "after a lengthy wait"?

Some alternatives to "after a lengthy wait" include "following a long delay", "after considerable delay", or "after a protracted period".

Is it better to say "after a lengthy wait" or "after a long wait"?

"After a lengthy wait" and "after a long wait" are both grammatically correct and similar in meaning. "Lengthy" implies a duration that is perhaps more tedious or notable than just "long".

What does "after a lengthy wait" emphasize in a sentence?

"After a lengthy wait" emphasizes the duration of time that passed before something occurred, suggesting that the waiting period was significant or perhaps frustrating.