lengthy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lengthy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is long in duration, extent, or amount, often referring to texts, speeches, or processes. Example: "The report was lengthy, covering all aspects of the project in great detail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Once completed, it will expand an already lengthy list of outsized projects that are apparently intended to burnish the reputation of the former Soviet Union's poorest country.

The Guardian

Modern cricket and its followers don't seem to have time for such lengthy endeavours unfortunately, but the endlessly churning hamster wheel of the cricket schedule goes on and on.

The Guardian - Sport

Quite apart from most players detesting such pitches, a handful of key England performers, including Steph Houghton, the influential captain, are still working their way back to match fitness following lengthy lay-offs and would have much preferred the rather more forgiving feel of grass beneath their feet.

The Guardian - Sport

The company even became embroiled in a lengthy Twitter debate with the opportunistic campaigners at Peta.

The Guardian

A well-received MacTaggart lecture at the 2012 Edinburgh TV Festival was followed by a lengthy New Yorker profile in December that year, headlined Heiress: the rise of Elisabeth Murdoch.

The Guardian

They were going into every challenge full-blooded and Chris Gunter showed no mercy as he challenged Danny Lafferty so forcefully he sent the Northern Ireland international flying over the advertising hoardings, wiped the linesman out and also saw a ball boy require lengthy treatment that ended in the youngster being carried away on the stretcher.

The Guardian - Sport

Westlife are one of the last remaining bands from pop's late-90s boom period and have enjoyed an unusually lengthy run of success.

The Guardian - Music

American journalist Theo Padnos, who was taken captive in Syria and held for almost two years, has told of his ordeal in a lengthy and graphic New York Times magazine article.

The Guardian

Amid the shambles in the ring, a Japanese official, as usual, read out a lengthy statement.

The Guardian - Sport

"While this can feel like an arduous and lengthy part of the process, it is a great opportunity to align everyone's expectations as to what the partnership will specifically involve.

The Guardian

In a lengthy rebuttal, Dannatt said he had made it clear to the undercover reporters that "I would need to meet the manufacturer and verify for myself whether the product was viable.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lengthy" to describe something that extends for a considerable duration or distance, particularly when you want to convey a sense of thoroughness or potential tedium.

Common error

Avoid using "lengthy" in very informal conversations. Simpler words like "long" often sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The word "lengthy" functions primarily as an adjective. Ludwig shows it is typically used to modify nouns, describing something that has considerable duration or extent, as in "a lengthy discussion" or "a lengthy process".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Sport

23%

General

23%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "lengthy" is commonly used to describe something that extends for a considerable duration, extent, or amount, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is considered grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in news media and sports reporting. While "lengthy" is often interchangeable with simpler alternatives like "long", it often carries a connotation of thoroughness or potential tedium. As noted by Ludwig, it's best practice to reserve "lengthy" for contexts where its nuance is appropriate, avoiding overuse in informal settings. "Lengthy" generally maintains a neutral to formal register, adding a layer of considered expression to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

long

A more general term for extended duration or distance, less formal than "lengthy".

protracted

Emphasizes the drawn-out nature of something, often implying difficulty or tediousness.

extended

Highlights the increased scope or duration of something.

prolonged

Suggests a deliberate extension of time, often used in medical or legal contexts.

drawn-out

Implies a process that is unnecessarily long or tedious.

extensive

Focuses on the comprehensive nature or scope of something.

Rambling

Suggests a disorganized and unnecessarily long form, often used for speeches or writing.

overlong

Implies that something is excessively long, often to the point of being tedious.

time-consuming

Highlights the amount of time required to complete something.

laborious

Emphasizes the effort and difficulty involved due to the extended nature of something.

FAQs

How can I use "lengthy" in a sentence?

Use "lengthy" to describe something of considerable duration, such as "a lengthy discussion" or "a lengthy process". It implies more than just being long; it suggests thoroughness or perhaps even excess.

What can I say instead of "lengthy"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "long", "protracted", or "extended".

Which is correct, "lengthy delay" or "long delay"?

Both "lengthy delay" and "long delay" are correct, but "lengthy delay" emphasizes the inconvenience or excessiveness of the delay more strongly than "long delay".

What's the difference between "lengthy" and "extensive"?

"Lengthy" refers primarily to duration or distance, while "extensive" refers to scope or comprehensiveness. A "lengthy report" is long in pages, while an "extensive report" covers many topics in detail.