English Reference
adjective

lengthy

adj.
US /ˈɫɛŋθi/ UK /lˈɛŋθi/ lengthy

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    lasting for a long time, especially when it feels slow or boring.

    extending for a considerable duration, often implying that the process is overextended or tedious.

    Simple

    The players had to wait for a lengthy delay while the rain stopped.

    In context

    The application process was unexpectedly lengthy, requiring several rounds of interviews and a detailed background check before a final decision was reached.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    using too many words in a speech or a piece of writing.

    characterised by excessive length in speech or writing; long-winded or verbose.

    Simple

    The politician gave a lengthy speech that didn't really answer the question.

    In context

    The report was criticized for its lengthy introduction, which delayed the presentation of the actual findings by nearly twenty pages.

    wordyverboseprolix

Usage lengthy deployment · lengthy deployments · lengthy procedure

After lengthy negotiations with my daughter at the merchandise stand, we settled in as Nick Jonas began.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

But hours after a lengthy list of celebrities were seen entering the venue in gowns and suits, large screens attached to the arena announced publicly that the famous couple were officially wed.

BBC News· 13 Aug 2026

From length + -y.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated