Large vs. Long: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Large refers to something of great size or extent in general dimensions, while long specifically describes something with great length, especially relative to width.
Key Differences
Large is used to describe something with considerable dimensions in terms of width, height, or volume, whereas long specifically refers to the extent of something measured from end to end. Large encompasses a general size aspect, while long focuses on the linear extension of an object or distance.
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Nov 19, 2023
In describing objects, 'large' implies a substantial overall size, which could include width, height, and depth, whereas 'long' focuses on an object's length, typically its longest dimension. A large building is expansive in several dimensions, while a long road extends a great distance from one point to another.
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Nov 19, 2023
When discussing clothing or sizes, 'large' indicates a size that is bigger than medium, encompassing various dimensions, while 'long' in this context would refer specifically to the length, such as in pants or sleeves. A large shirt is generally big in all areas, whereas long pants have an extended leg length.
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Nov 19, 2023
In geography, a 'large' area refers to a place with a significant expanse, including length, width, and sometimes population, while 'long' would describe the length of geographical features like rivers or coastlines. A large country covers a vast area, while a long river stretches over a great length.
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Nov 19, 2023
In time expressions, 'large' isn't typically used, while 'long' indicates an extended duration. 'Large' doesn't apply to time, but a long meeting indicates it continues for many hours.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Dimension Focus
General size (width, height, volume).
Specifically length (end to end).
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Nov 19, 2023
Object Description
Overall substantial size.
Extended in the longest dimension.
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Nov 19, 2023
Clothing Sizes
Bigger overall dimensions than medium.
Specific to extended length.
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Nov 19, 2023
Geographic Context
Vast area in terms of expanse.
Length of geographical features.
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Nov 19, 2023
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Large and Long Definitions
Large
Greater than normal in quantity or extent.
He made a large investment in the business.
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Nov 19, 2023
Long
Measuring a great distance from end to end.
The long hallway stretched before them.
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Nov 19, 2023
Large
Broad or extensive in scope or range.
The project had a large impact on the community.
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Nov 19, 2023
Large
Used in expressions to mean to a great extent or degree.
His influence looms large in the industry.
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Nov 19, 2023
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Long
Lasting or taking a considerable amount of time.
It was a long and tiring journey.
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Nov 19, 2023
Large
Important; significant
Had a large role in the negotiations.
A large producer of paper goods.
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Oct 19, 2023
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
Large
Of great magnitude or intensity; grand
“a rigid resistance to the large emotions” (Stephen Koch).
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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
Large
Of considerable or relatively great size or extent.
Russia is a large country.
The fruit-fly has large eyes for its body size.
He has a large collection of stamps.
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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
Long
Having an abundance or excess of
"politicians whose résumés are long on competence" (Margaret Garrard Warner).
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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
Large
(nautical) Crossing the line of a ship's course in a favorable direction; said of the wind when it is abeam, or between the beam and the quarter.
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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
Large
An old musical note, equal to two longas, four breves, or eight semibreves.
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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
Large
A thousand dollars/pounds.
Getting a car tricked out like that will cost you 50 large.
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Oct 19, 2023
Large
An item labelled or denoted as being that size.
One small coffee and two larges, please.
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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
Large
Exceeding most other things of like kind in bulk, capacity, quantity, superficial dimensions, or number of constituent units; big; great; capacious; extensive; - opposed to small; as, a large horse; a large house or room; a large lake or pool; a large jug or spoon; a large vineyard; a large army; a large city.
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Oct 19, 2023
Large
Abundant; ample; as, a large supply of provisions.
We have yet large day.
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Oct 19, 2023
Large
Full in statement; diffuse; full; profuse.
I might be very large upon the importance and advantages of education.
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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
Large
Having more than usual power or capacity; having broad sympathies and generous impulses; comprehensive; - said of the mind and heart.
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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
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?
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Oct 19, 2023
Large
Crossing the line of a ship's course in a favorable direction; - said of the wind when it is abeam, or between the beam and the quarter.
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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
Long
Seemingly lasting a lot of time, because it is boring or tedious or tiring.
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Oct 19, 2023
Large
A musical note, formerly in use, equal to two longs, four breves, or eight semibreves.
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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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Large
Above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent;
A large city
Set out for the big city
A large sum
A big (or large) barn
A large family
Big businesses
A big expenditure
A large number of newspapers
A big group of scientists
Large areas of the world
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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
Large
Fairly large or important in effect; influential;
Played a large role in the negotiations
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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
Long
(gambling) Of betting odds, offering a very large return for a small wager.
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Oct 19, 2023
Large
Ostentatiously lofty in style;
A man given to large talk
Tumid political prose
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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
Large
Generous and understanding and tolerant;
A heart big enough to hold no grudges
That's very big of you to be so forgiving
A large and generous spirit
A large heart
Magnanimous toward his enemies
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Oct 19, 2023
Large
Conspicuous in position or importance;
A big figure in the movement
Big man on campus
He's very large in financial circles
A prominent citizen
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Oct 19, 2023
Large
Having broad power and range and scope;
Taking the large view
A large effect
A large sympathy
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Oct 19, 2023
Large
In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child
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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
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
Long
(finance) An entity with a long position in an asset.
Every uptick made the longs cheer.
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Oct 19, 2023
Large
Of considerable or above-average size.
The large elephant dominated the landscape.
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Nov 19, 2023
Large
Used to describe a size category in clothing.
She wears a large in jackets.
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Nov 19, 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.
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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?
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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.
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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
Shumaila Saeed
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
Referring to a period of time far away from the present.
Long ago, this land was untouched.
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Nov 19, 2023
Long
Used in expressions to indicate eagerness or impatience.
We've waited long enough for a change.
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Nov 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can an object be both large and long?
Yes, if it's extensive in size and length.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Does large have a standard measurement?
It's relative and depends on context.
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Nov 19, 2023
Can a person be described as large?
Yes, in terms of their overall body size.
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Nov 19, 2023
Can "long" be used to describe relationships, like a long marriage?
Yes, "long" can be used to describe the duration of various relationships and commitments, such as a long marriage or a long friendship.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Is "large" a relative term?
Yes, the perception of something as large can depend on what it is being compared to.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Can "large" be used figuratively in expressions like "large appetite"?
Yes, "large" can be used figuratively to describe characteristics or qualities, such as a large appetite.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Can "long" be used figuratively in expressions like "long face"?
Yes, "long" can be used figuratively to describe expressions, feelings, or appearances, as in "a long face" indicating sadness or disappointment.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Are there different ways to measure "long" in time, like seconds, minutes, or hours?
Yes, the measurement of "long" in time can vary depending on the context, such as a long second (for a specific event) or a long hour (for a long wait).
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Can "large" be used to describe quantities or numbers?
Yes, "large" can be used to describe a significant quantity or number, such as a large group of people.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
How is long used in geography?
To describe the length of features like rivers.
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Nov 19, 2023
Is "long" an adjective or adverb?
"Long" is primarily an adjective used to modify nouns (e.g., a long book), but it can also function as an adverb in some contexts (e.g., "She waited long").
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Are there different degrees of "largeness"?
Yes, you can use modifiers like "very," "quite," or "extremely" to indicate different degrees of largeness, such as "very large" or "quite large."
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
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About Author
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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