superlative adjective
Continuing for the greatest amount of time compared with others.
It was the longest movie I have ever seen.
That was the longest wait of the day.
American English
How to pronounce longest
adjective · adverbA1Very common word
LAWNGgihst
/ˈlɔŋ.gɪst̚/
2 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Form of long
Longest compares three or more people or things and means having or lasting for the greatest amount of time or distance.
Continuing for the greatest amount of time compared with others.
What to listen for
You may hear this word with /ˈlɔŋ.gɪst̚/ or /ˈlɑŋ.gɪst̚/. Both are common American pronunciations.
Common pronunciation/ˈlɔŋ.gɪst̚/
Also heard/ˈlɑŋ.gɪst̚/
Meanings & examples
superlative adjective
Having the greatest distance from one end to the other compared with others.
This is the longest bridge in the state.
She has the longest hair in her class.
superlative adverb
For the greatest amount of time compared with others.
Of all the students, Maya stayed longest.
Which runner lasted longest?
Useful expressions
provided that; if a condition is true
You can stay as long as you are quiet.
not now, although something was true before
She no longer works here.
a long time in the past
They lived there long ago.