been a long wait

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been a long wait" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something has been expected for a lengthy period of time. For example, "It's been a long wait, but I'm finally graduating from college!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

It could have been a long wait.

The New York Times

FOR Cambodians it has been a long wait.

The Economist

This had been a long wait & he was discouraged.

The New Yorker

"It's been a long wait for us," Mr. Clark said.

The New York Times

For the believers, it has been a long wait.

The New York Times

For Arthur Wendel, it has been a long wait.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

"It's been a long waiting for it.

The New York Times - Sports

Sure was a long wait.

The New York Times

It's a long wait.

The New York Times

It was a long wait.

The New York Times

It might be a long wait.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "been a long wait" to express relief or satisfaction that an anticipated event has finally occurred. For example, "It's been a long wait, but the project is finally complete."

Common error

Avoid using "been a long wait" when referring to a future event. This phrase is best suited for expressing the completion of a waiting period. Instead, use phrases like "it will be a long wait."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been a long wait" primarily functions as an expression of relief or culmination. It's used to indicate that a period of waiting has ended, often implying anticipation or patience. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Academia

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "been a long wait" is a commonly used expression to indicate that something has been anticipated for a significant period. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and is used to express the completion of a waiting period. Predominantly found in news and media, this phrase conveys a sense of relief and satisfaction that something has finally occurred. To ensure correct usage, avoid using this phrase to refer to future events. Instead it is best suited for the conclusion of a waiting period. Alternatives such as "it has been a protracted delay" can be used for a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has been a lengthy wait

Replaces "long" with "lengthy", emphasizing the duration of the wait.

it has been a protracted delay

Substitutes "wait" with "delay" and "long" with "protracted", highlighting the extended nature of the postponement.

the waiting period has been extensive

Rephrases to emphasize the period of waiting and its extensive duration.

it has been a considerable anticipation

Focuses on the anticipation aspect, replacing "wait" with "anticipation" and "long" with "considerable".

the delay has been significant

Highlights the significance of the delay, implying it has been a long one.

it has taken longer than expected

Highlights that the duration exceeded initial expectations.

it's been a drawn-out process

Emphasizes the process leading up to something has been lengthy.

we've been expecting this for a while

An informal way to say that something has been anticipated for a long time.

the wait has felt like forever

Emphasizes the subjective experience of the wait being exceptionally long.

we've waited ages for this

Informal way of saying that the wait has been very long.

FAQs

How can I use "been a long wait" in a sentence?

You can use "been a long wait" to express that something has been anticipated for a significant period, such as "It's been a long wait, but the new album is finally here!"

What's a more formal way to say "been a long wait"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "it has been a protracted delay" or "the anticipation has been considerable".

Which is correct, "been a long wait" or "being a long wait"?

"Been a long wait" is the correct phrasing when expressing that a period of waiting has concluded. "Being a long wait" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

What can I say instead of "been a long wait" when referring to future events?

When referring to a waiting period that is still ongoing, consider using phrases like "it will be a long wait" or "the waiting period will be lengthy".