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long haul: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C1
UK/ˌlɒŋ ˈhɔːl/US/ˌlɔːŋ ˈhɑːl/

neutral to formal

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Quick answer

What does “long haul” mean?

A journey, task, or period of time that covers a great distance or lasts a very long time.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A journey, task, or period of time that covers a great distance or lasts a very long time.

Any difficult, demanding, or prolonged process requiring sustained effort.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

In UK English, 'long-haul' as a modifier is more frequently hyphenated ('long-haul flight'). US English shows more variation, often using the open form ('long haul trucking'). The noun phrase is commonly open in both.

Connotations

Both share the core meaning. In US business contexts, it may be used more freely for any long-term project.

Frequency

Slightly more frequent in US English due to larger domestic air and road freight industries.

Grammar

How to Use “long haul” in a Sentence

be in it for the long haulprepare for the long haula long haul from X to Y

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
long-haul flightlong-haul truckerlong-haul driverin for the long haul
medium
long haul aheadlong haul transportlong haul recoverylong haul investment
weak
long haul journeylong haul relationshiplong haul effortlong haul plan

Examples

Examples of “long haul” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • N/A – not standard as a verb.

American English

  • N/A – not standard as a verb.

adverb

British English

  • N/A – not standard as an adverb.

American English

  • N/A – not standard as an adverb.

adjective

British English

  • She works as a long-haul pilot for British Airways.
  • The long-haul freight market is very competitive.

American English

  • He was a long haul trucker for twenty years.
  • They specialize in long haul logistics.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Refers to strategies or investments that yield returns only after many years.

Academic

Used in economics or sociology to describe longitudinal studies or societal changes.

Everyday

Describes long drives, recovering from illness, or maintaining relationships.

Technical

In logistics, specifies transport over distances exceeding a certain range (e.g., >1500 miles).

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “long haul”

Strong

endurance testgruelling task

Neutral

lengthy processextended periodmarathon

Weak

long journeylong-term

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “long haul”

short runquick fixshort haulsprint

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “long haul”

  • Using 'long hall' (a large room) incorrectly.
  • Using it for any long task without the nuance of sustained difficulty or distance.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is typically written as two words ('long haul') or hyphenated as a modifier ('long-haul flight').

A 'short-haul flight' or a 'domestic flight' over a short distance.

Yes, figuratively. E.g., 'Making a marriage work is a long haul' implies it requires sustained effort over time.

It means being fully committed to something for as long as it takes, despite difficulties.

A journey, task, or period of time that covers a great distance or lasts a very long time.

Long haul is usually neutral to formal in register.

Long haul: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɒŋ ˈhɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɔːŋ ˈhɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “in it for the long haul”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a lorry driver hauling a heavy load over a LONG road that stretches to the horizon.

Conceptual Metaphor

LIFE IS A JOURNEY / A PROJECT IS A TRANSPORT ROUTE

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
After the initial excitement, the real work began, and we realised we were haul.
Multiple Choice

In which context is 'long haul' LEAST appropriate?

long haul: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore