# length

/ˈɫɛŋkθ/ (US) · /lˈɛŋθ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/length
Updated: 2026-04-30

## Senses

### 1. physical measurement

noun · CEFR A2

the distance from one end of something to the other.

For teachers: the measurement of the longest dimension of an object or the distance between two points.

- The length of the table is two metres, so it should fit in the kitchen.
- The architect carefully calculated the length of the structural beams to ensure they could span the entire width of the hall without central support.

### 2. duration of time

noun · CEFR B1

the amount of time that something lasts.

For teachers: the duration or period of time occupied by an event or state.

- The length of the movie was three hours, which felt a bit too long.
- The total length of the internship is six months, providing students with sufficient time to gain meaningful professional experience.

### 3. a piece of material

noun · CEFR B1

a piece of something long, like rope, wood, or cloth.

For teachers: a specific piece or section of a material that is typically sold or measured by its long dimension.

- He cut a short length of rope to tie the gate shut.
- The plumber replaced a damaged length of copper piping that had begun to leak behind the bathroom wall.

### 4. swimming pool distance

noun · CEFR B1

the distance from one end of a swimming pool to the other.

For teachers: the distance from one end of a swimming pool to the other, used as a unit of measurement for exercise.

- She swims twenty lengths every morning before she goes to work.
- After completing fifty lengths of the Olympic-sized pool, the athlete focused on improving his turn technique for the upcoming competition.

### 5. racing distance

noun · CEFR B2

the distance equal to the length of a horse or boat in a race.

For teachers: a unit of measurement in racing equivalent to the length of the animal or vehicle being raced.

- The horse won the race by two lengths in a very exciting finish.
- Despite a slow start, the rowing crew managed to pull ahead and win the regatta by a clear length.

## Examples

- The length of the table is two meters.
- The director decided to reduce the length of the play because the second act felt too slow.
- Engineers must calculate the exact length of the suspension cables to ensure the bridge can withstand thermal expansion during the summer months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.