Far vs. Long: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Far refers to a great distance, physically or metaphorically, while long describes an extended length or duration in time or space.
Key Differences
Far is used to describe a physical or metaphorical distance, indicating a substantial separation between two points or concepts. Long, however, typically refers to the measurement of length or duration, suggesting an extended amount of space or time.
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Nov 30, 2023
When describing a journey, 'far' emphasizes the distance traveled, conveying a sense of a great spatial separation. In contrast, 'long' in this context would focus on the length of the journey, either in terms of distance or the time it takes.
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Nov 30, 2023
In the context of time, 'far' can imply a significant temporal distance, as in 'far in the past' or 'far in the future'. 'Long', on the other hand, denotes the duration or extent of time, such as in a long day or a long wait.
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Nov 30, 2023
In metaphorical usage, 'far' can signify a great degree of difference or separation in qualities, like being 'far from perfect'. 'Long' in metaphorical terms often relates to experiences or processes, indicating their extended nature, as in 'a long road to recovery'.
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Nov 30, 2023
Physically, 'far' can describe the extent of the distance from a specific point, as in 'far away'. 'Long' describes the dimension of an object or period, such as a long rope or a long movie.
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Nov 30, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Primary Usage
Distance in space or metaphor
Length or duration in time or space
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Nov 30, 2023
Contextual Use
Separation or distance from a point
Measurement of extent or duration
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Nov 30, 2023
Metaphorical Use
Degree of difference or separation
Extended nature of experiences
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Nov 30, 2023
Physical Reference
Distance from a point or location
Dimension or size of an object
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Nov 30, 2023
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Far and Long Definitions
Far
Far indicates a considerable degree of separation.
His opinion is far from the truth.
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Nov 30, 2023
Far
Far is used to express a vast extent of space or time.
Stars are far away in the universe.
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Nov 30, 2023
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Long
Having the greater length of two or the greatest length of several
The long edge of the door.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
To, from, or at a considerable distance
A cat that had strayed far from home.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
To, from, or at a much earlier or later time
A movie that takes place far in the future.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
To a considerable degree; much
Felt far better yesterday.
Eyes that seemed far too close together.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Extending or landing beyond a given boundary, limit, or goal
Her first serve was long.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Concerned with distant issues; far-reaching
Took a long view of the geopolitical issues.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
Far-seeing and comprehensive in thought or outlook
A commander of far vision.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Having an abundance or excess of
"politicians whose résumés are long on competence" (Margaret Garrard Warner).
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
Marked by political views of the most advanced or extreme nature
The far right.
The far left.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Having a holding of a commodity or security in expectation of a rise in price
Long on soybeans.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
(Linguistics) Having a comparatively great duration. Used of a vowel or consonant.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
(Grammar) Relating to or being the English speech sounds (ā, ē, ī, ō, ) that are tense vowels or diphthongs.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Being of relatively great duration. Used of a syllable in quantitative prosody.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
At or to a considerable distance; far
She walked long past the end of the trail.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
More remote of two.
See those two mountains? The ogre lives on the far one.
He moved to the far end of the state. She remained at this end.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
Extreme, as measured from some central or neutral position.
They are on the far right on this issue.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
At a point of time distant from that referred to
That event took place long before we were born.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
Outside the currently selected segment in a segmented memory architecture.
Far heap; far memory; far pointer
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
To, from or over a great distance in space, time or other extent.
You have all come far and you will go farther.
He built a time machine and travelled far into the future.
Over time, his views moved far away from mine.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Far
Very much; by a great amount.
He was far richer than we'd thought.
The expense far exceeds what I expected.
I saw a tiny figure far below me.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
One who acquires holdings in a security or commodity in expectation of a rise in price.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
Spelt (a type of wheat, Triticum spelta), especially in the context of Roman use of it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
Distant in any direction; not near; remote; mutually separated by a wide space or extent.
They said, . . . We be come from a far country.
The nations far and near contend in choice.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
To have an earnest, heartfelt desire, especially for something beyond reach.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
Remote from purpose; contrary to design or wishes; as, far be it from me to justify cruelty.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Having much distance from one terminating point on an object or an area to another terminating point usually applies to horizontal dimensions; see Usage Notes below.
It's a long way from the Earth to the Moon.
How long was your newborn baby?
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Far
Remote in affection or obedience; at a distance, morally or spiritually; t enmity with; alienated.
They that are far from thee ahsll perish.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Having great duration.
The pyramids of Egypt have been around for a long time.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
Widely different in nature or quality; opposite in character.
He was far from ill looking, though he thought himself still farther.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Seemingly lasting a lot of time, because it is boring or tedious or tiring.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
The more distant of two; as, the far side (called also off side) of a horse, that is, the right side, or the one opposite to the rider when he mounts.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
To a great extent or distance of space; widely; as, we are separated far from each other.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
(finance) Possessing or owning stocks, bonds, commodities or other financial instruments with the aim of benefiting of the expected rise in their value.
I'm long in DuPont.
I have a long position in DuPont.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Far
To a great distance in time from any point; remotely; as, he pushed his researches far into antiquity.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
(cricket) Of a fielding position, close to the boundary (or closer to the boundary than the equivalent short position).
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Landing beyond the baseline, and therefore deemed to be out.
That forehand is long.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
In a great proportion; by many degrees; very much; deeply; greatly.
Who can find a virtuous woman ? for her price is far above rubies.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
(gambling) Of betting odds, offering a very large return for a small wager.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
A terrorist organization that seeks to overthrow the government dominated by Tutsi and to reinstitute Hutu control;
In 1999 ALIR guerrillas kidnapped and killed eight foreign tourists
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Occurring or coming after an extended interval; distant in time; far away.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
At a great distance in time or space or degree;
We come from a far country
Far corners of the earth
The far future
A far journey
The far side of the road
Far from the truth
Far in the future
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
Being the animal or vehicle on the right or being on the right side of an animal or vehicle;
The horse on the right is the far horse
The right side is the far side of the horse
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
(music) A note formerly used in music, one half the length of a large, twice that of a breve.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
To a considerable degree; very much;
A far far better thing that I do
Felt far worse than yesterday
Eyes far too close together
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
(programming) A long integer variable, twice the size of an int, two or four times the size of a short, and half of a long long.
A long is typically 64 bits in a 32-bit environment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
At or to or from a great distance in space;
He traveled far
Strayed far from home
Sat far away from each other
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
(finance) An entity with a long position in an asset.
Every uptick made the longs cheer.
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
At or to a certain point or degree;
I can only go so far before I have to give up
How far can we get with this kind of argument?
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
Remote in time;
If we could see far into the future
All that happened far in the past
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Oct 19, 2023
Far
Far can describe something well advanced in time or sequence.
We planned our trip far in advance.
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Nov 30, 2023
Far
Far can also mean to a great extent or degree.
Her performance was far better than expected.
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Nov 30, 2023
Long
(intransitive) To await, aspire, desire greatly (something to occur or to be true).
She longed for him to come back.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
For a long duration.
Will this interview take long?
Paris has long been considered one of the most cultured cities in the world.
She has known us as long as you
I haven't long to live.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Long
Drawn out in a line, or in the direction of length; protracted; extended; as, a long line; - opposed to short, and distinguished from broad or wide.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Drawn out or extended in time; continued through a considerable tine, or to a great length; as, a long series of events; a long debate; a long drama; a long history; a long book.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Slow in passing; causing weariness by length or duration; lingering; as, long hours of watching.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Occurring or coming after an extended interval; distant in time; far away.
The we may us reserve both fresh and strongAgainst the tournament, which is not long.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Having a length of the specified measure; of a specified length; as, a span long; a yard long; a mile long, that is, extended to the measure of a mile, etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Having a supply of stocks or goods; prepared for, or depending for a profit upon, advance in prices; as, long of cotton. Hence, the phrases: to be, or go, long of the market, to be on the long side of the market, to hold products or securities for a rise in price, esp. when bought on a margin. Contrasted to short.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Long
A note formerly used in music, one half the length of a large, twice that of a breve.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
The longest dimension; the greatest extent; - in the phrase, the long and the short of it, that is, the sum and substance of it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
To a great extent in time; during a long time.
They that tarry long at the wine.
When the trumpet soundeth long.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
At a point of duration far distant, either prior or posterior; as, not long before; not long after; long before the foundation of Rome; long after the Conquest.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Through the whole extent or duration.
The bird of dawning singeth all night long.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Through an extent of time, more or less; - only in question; as, how long will you be gone?
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Long
To feel a strong or morbid desire or craving; to wish for something with eagerness; - followed by an infinitive, or by for or after.
I long to see you.
I have longed after thy precepts.
I have longed for thy salvation.
Nicomedes, longing for herrings, was supplied with fresh ones . . . at a great distance from the sea.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Long
To belong; - used with to, unto, or for.
The labor which that longeth unto me.
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
A comparatively long time;
This won't take long
They haven't been gone long
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified;
A long life
A long boring speech
A long time
A long friendship
A long game
Long ago
An hour long
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Primarily spatial sense; of relatively great or greater than average spatial extension or extension as specified;
A long road
A long distance
Contained many long words
Ten miles long
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Of relatively great height;
A race of long gaunt men
Looked out the long French windows
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Holding securities or commodities in expectation of a rise in prices;
Is long on coffee
A long position in gold
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Of speech sounds (especially vowels) of relatively long duration (as e.g. the English vowel sounds in `bate', `beat', `bite', `boat', `boot')
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
(of memory) having greater than average range;
A long memory especially for insults
A tenacious memory
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Planning prudently for the future;
Large goals that required farsighted policies
Took a long view of the geopolitical issues
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
Having or being more than normal or necessary:
Long on brains
In long supply
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Oct 19, 2023
Long
For an extended time or at a distant time;
A promotion long overdue
Something long hoped for
His name has long been forgotten
Talked all night long
How long will you be gone?
Arrived long before he was expected
It is long after your bedtime
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Long
Long describes something of great length or duration.
The river is long and winding.
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Nov 30, 2023
Long
Long can indicate an extended period of time.
He waited for a long time.
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Nov 30, 2023
Long
Long is used for something that measures much from end to end.
She wore a long dress to the party.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
Long
Long can refer to a desire for something absent or lost.
She longed to see her family again.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
Long
Long implies an extended distance or amount.
He took a long journey across the continent.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can 'far' be used in a metaphorical sense?
Yes, 'far' can metaphorically indicate a large degree of difference.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
What contexts suit the use of 'long'?
'Long' suits contexts involving measurements of time or space.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
How does 'far' relate to time?
Far can describe a significant distance in time, like 'far in the past'.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
What does 'long' indicate in spatial terms?
Long indicates the measurement of an object from end to end.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
How is 'long' commonly used?
Long is used to describe extended length or duration.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
What does 'long' imply in terms of duration?
Long implies an extended amount of time, as in a long wait.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
Is 'far' suitable for physical measurements?
Far is more about distance than physical dimensions.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
What does 'far' primarily indicate?
Far indicates a great distance, either physically or metaphorically.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
How does 'far' function in travel contexts?
Far describes the extent of distance traveled or separated.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
Can 'long' refer to emotional states?
Yes, as in longing for something or someone.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
Can 'long' be used in a figurative sense?
Yes, like in 'a long road to success'.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
What kind of longing does 'long' imply?
Long implies a deep, often emotional yearning.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
Does 'long' apply to physical objects?
Yes, 'long' often describes the length of physical objects.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
How is 'long' used in everyday language?
Long is commonly used to describe both physical lengths and time durations.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
How do 'far' and 'long' differ in spatial context?
Far relates to distance from a point, long to the dimension of an object.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
Is 'far' appropriate for immediate distances?
Far typically implies a larger, more significant distance.
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Nov 30, 2023
How does 'long' describe periods of time?
Long describes extensive periods, like a long era.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
Does 'far' have a temporal aspect?
Yes, particularly in phrases like 'far ahead' or 'far behind'.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
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Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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