plural noun
The distances from one end of something to the other.
The lengths of the two boards are different.
Check the lengths of the cables before you order them.
American English
How to pronounce lengths
nounB1Very common word
LEHNGTHS
/lɛŋθs/
One syllable.
Form of length
The expression go to great lengths means to make a very big effort.
The distances from one end of something to the other.
What to listen for
“Lengths” is usually pronounced /lɛŋθs/. You may also hear /lɛŋkθs/, with a brief /k/ before /θ/; both are correct.
Usual pronunciation/lɛŋθs/
Common variant with /k//lɛŋkθs/
Meanings & examples
plural noun
The amounts of time that events or activities continue.
The lengths of the movies are listed online.
We compared the lengths of the two performances.
plural noun
Pieces of material that have measured sizes.
The shop sells rope in different lengths.
We cut the fabric into equal lengths.
plural noun: swimming
Complete trips from one end of a swimming pool to the other.
The coach asked us to swim six lengths.
She swims ten lengths before breakfast.
Good to know
In swimming, lengths means trips across the pool, not measurements of the pool itself.
Useful expressions
in detail and for a fairly long time
They discussed the problem at length.
make a very big effort to do something
She went to great lengths to help us.