lengthy

Everyday

Lengthy means very long, often too long, in time or in words. tree →

In the lessons

Used in everyday and formal writing: «a lengthy wait», «a lengthy report», «lengthy instructions». It tells the reader something took a long time, often in a boring or tiring way.

Examples

• We had a lengthy wait at the doctor's. tree →
• The speech was lengthy and dull. tree →
• She wrote a lengthy letter to her pen pal. tree →
• The lengthy instructions confused everyone. tree →
• After a lengthy search, we found the keys. tree →
• The court case was lengthy. tree →
• After a somewhat lengthy journey the Prince and the wolf came to the kingdom ruled over by the Emperor who possessed the golden horse. tree →

Note

Usually about time or text, not physical objects (say «a long rope», not «a lengthy rope»). Noun: length; verb: lengthen. Often slightly negative.