Word
lengthy
Meanings
Taking a long time; long-lasting and often tiring or inconvenient.
Long in words or details; longer than necessary.
Definition
Long in time or containing a lot of detail, often more than expected.
If something is lengthy, it lasts for a long time or is longer than necessary. It can describe documents, speeches, meetings, or processes that take time and include many details. The word often suggests that the length feels excessive or tiring, not just long.
Examples
- After a lengthy delay on the runway, they finally let us off the plane.
- I skipped the appendix because the report was lengthy and packed with minor details.
- She offered a lengthy explanation of her decision, but the team still wanted a clearer summary.
- You can make the meeting less lengthy by sending the background notes in advance.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use "lengthy" to mean physically long (e.g., a road), but it usually refers to time or wordiness; use "long" for physical length.
More at C1 level
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- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.