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how long

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌhaʊ ˈlɔːŋ/ · UK /ˌhaʊ ˈlɒŋ/

how long means: Used to ask about the length of an event, stay, or period of time.

adjective

WHAT DURATIONA1

Used to ask about the length of an event, stay, or period of time.

  • How long is the film?
  • How long was your holiday?
  • Could you tell me how long the meeting will be?

How to use it: how long is/are something? (How long is the lesson?); how long are you here for? (How long are you here for this time?)

Common phrases: how long is something, how long a stay

WHAT LENGTHA1

Used to ask about the distance from one end of something to the other.

  • How long is this rope?
  • Do you know how long the tunnel is?
  • How long were the pieces you cut?

How to use it: how long is/are something? (How long is the bridge?)

Similar words: what length

Common phrases: how long is something, how long a rope

adverb

FOR WHAT TIMEA1

Used to ask how much time an action or situation lasts.

  • How long did you wait?
  • How long have they lived here?
  • Do you know how long the battery will last?

How to use it: how long + auxiliary + subject + verb? (How long have you worked here?); how long does it take to do something? (How long does it take to walk home?)

Similar words: for how much time

Common phrases: how long to wait, how long it takes

Questions about how long

What does how long mean?

Used to ask about the length of an event, stay, or period of time.

What is how long in other languages?

Türkçe: ne kadar uzun · Español: cuánto dura · Français: de quelle durée · Deutsch: wie lang · Italiano: quanto lungo · 日本語: どのくらいの期間

How do you pronounce how long?

In American English /ˌhaʊ ˈlɔːŋ/; in British English /ˌhaʊ ˈlɒŋ/.

How do you use how long in a sentence?

How long is the film? How long was your holiday?

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how long in other languages

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