an extremely long time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an extremely long time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the duration of time that is significantly longer than usual or expected. Example: "I haven't seen my childhood friend in an extremely long time, and I really miss our conversations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

According to Long, the waiting period associated with moving funds from one country to another can take an extremely long time to process.

Forbes

Which is an extremely long time.

The Washington Post

"When we explored the data together," Axel says, "I fell silent for an extremely long time.

Columbia University

If you feel that it is taking an extremely long time, raise your hand to alert a proctor.

Harvard University

"Twenty-five years is an extremely long time for any litigation to take place," Mr. Swift said.

The New York Times

"It was difficult to leave Reading because I had been there an extremely long time," Federici told Bournemouth's website.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Homework can cause a child to work for extremely long time in a day, in addition to their time at school.

Independent

Citizens named it the Babylon tower of Nizhny because of the extremely long time it took to construct.

The Guardian

Once activated, VSOR may stay extremely long time in open state (several minutes) without transitions to closed state.

BioMed Research International

That means that some pairs of paralogous proteins at least partially retain their functional redundancy for extremely long time after the duplication event.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

In general, the support is meant to be a simple isolation system, and the fact the stiffness matrix is complex and frequency-temperature dependent – due to its viscoelastic properties – forces the traditional methods to require an extremely long computing time, thus rendering them too time consuming in an optimization environment.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience and context. While "an extremely long time" is generally appropriate, more formal situations might benefit from synonyms like "a significantly prolonged period".

Common error

Avoid using "an extremely long time" in very informal settings where simpler phrases like "a long time" or "ages" might sound more natural and less forced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an extremely long time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the duration of an action or state. It adds emphasis to the length of the duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

23%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an extremely long time" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverbial phrase that emphasizes a duration considerably longer than expected. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage across various contexts. It is most common in news, scientific, and academic writing, and its usage is considered neutral to slightly formal. While effective for highlighting prolonged durations, remember to tailor your language to your audience and opt for less formal alternatives in casual conversations. When you want to emphasize a duration that feels like "what seems like forever", this phrase is a strong choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a very protracted period

Emphasizes the length and extension of the period.

a considerably extended duration

Highlights the notable extent of the duration.

a significantly prolonged timeframe

Focuses on the importance of the extended timeframe.

an exceptionally lengthy interval

Stresses the unusual length of the interval.

a remarkably extended span

Highlights the unusual extent of the span.

a terribly drawn-out stretch

Implies the duration is boring, tedious, or longer than necessary.

ages and ages

Informal phrase that still expresses great duration.

what seems like forever

Conveys the subjective feeling of a very long duration.

a dog's age

Colloquial expression meaning a long time, usually longer than desired.

until the cows come home

Idiomatic expression indicating an indefinite and very long period.

FAQs

How can I use "an extremely long time" in a sentence?

You can use "an extremely long time" to emphasize that something lasts much longer than expected. For instance, "The project took "an extremely long time" to complete because of unforeseen complications."

What are some alternatives to "an extremely long time"?

Alternatives to "an extremely long time" include "a very protracted period", "a considerably extended duration", or "ages and ages", depending on the context and level of formality.

When is it appropriate to use "an extremely long time" instead of "a long time"?

Use "an extremely long time" when you want to emphasize the unusual or excessive duration of something. "A long time" is more general, while "an extremely long time" adds emphasis. If you want to describe something that lasts for "what seems like forever", use the longer phrase.

Is "an extremely long time" too formal for casual conversation?

While "an extremely long time" is acceptable in many contexts, it might sound slightly formal in very casual conversations. In such situations, consider using phrases like "a dog's age" or "until the cows come home" for a more relaxed tone.