long for

adj, verb — 3 senses

long for

adj

1

likely to remain for a long time

I asked the doctor if I was long for this world
But it doesn't matter, because Roxie's not long for this town. As soon as her mother's better, she'll be on her way to Paris.2009, Karen Hawkins, Talk of the Town, page 126:

long for

verb

1

To have a desire for (a thing or an event).

He was the object of my affection; I longed for him to notice me.
Oh how I long for this pandemic to end so we can go dancing again.

1 more example

At times I long for the patience of Job and the wisdom of Solomon.1960 April 23, A. W. Bennett, “A Locomotive Shedmaster's Day”, in Railway Magazine, page 272:

2

To miss (someone).

“I will stay now, if you bid me,” she replied, as low. “See, I am going to my mother, who longs for me as I for her. I will not go unless you let me.”1888, Tighe Hopkins, For Freedom, volume 2, page 104:
For some time he had not heard from his consort[…]His heart longed for her and his child.1982, Luise Mühlbach, chapter LIV, in F. Jordan, transl., Napoleon and Blücher: An Historical Novel, page 297:

1 more example

He remembered those long years before his marriage, when he had longed for her and she had resisted him[…]2011, Edith Sitwell, Fanfare for Elizabeth:

Related terms: longing, not long for

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.