long march: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, historical, political
Quick answer
What does “long march” mean?
A specific historical event: the 1934-35 strategic retreat and journey of the Chinese Red Army, covering approximately 8,000 miles (12,800 km) across China.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific historical event: the 1934-35 strategic retreat and journey of the Chinese Red Army, covering approximately 8,000 miles (12,800 km) across China.
Any arduous, lengthy journey or struggle undertaken with great determination and endurance, often towards a difficult goal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK usage may more readily reference the historical event in a global studies context; US usage is more likely to employ the metaphorical sense.
Connotations
Similar connotations of gruelling effort in both dialects. In political discourse, UK speakers might use it with a slightly more neutral historical tone, while US speakers may use it with stronger anti-communist or purely metaphorical overtones.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language, but higher in academic historical/political texts. Metaphorical use is rare but understood.
Grammar
How to Use “long march” in a Sentence
[subject] embarked on a/the long march [to/through/across] [destination/goal]The long march [of/in] [group] lasted [duration]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “long march” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The protesters vowed to long-march to the capital if necessary.
- They are long-marching for climate justice.
American English
- The activists plan to long-march across the state to raise awareness.
- We will long-march until our demands are met.
adverb
British English
- They progressed long-march towards their ultimate objective.
American English
- The reforms moved forward long-march, slowly but surely.
adjective
British English
- The long-march mentality kept the team going through the tough project.
- He had a long-march look of determination.
American English
- Their campaign was a long-march effort spanning years.
- She approached her PhD with a long-march persistence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for a long-term, difficult strategic project: 'Turning the company around will be a long march, not a quick fix.'
Academic
Primary reference to the 1934-35 Chinese Communist Party retreat; secondary use as a metaphor in political science and history.
Everyday
Rare; if used, describes a very long, difficult walk or a metaphorically taxing process.
Technical
Specific term in Sinology and 20th-century military history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “long march”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “long march”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “long march”
- Using lowercase for the specific historical event (should be 'Long March').
- Using it to describe any long walk without connotations of endurance and purpose.
- Misspelling as 'Longmarch' (should be two words).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It literally refers to the 1934-35 strategic retreat of the Chinese Red Army, led by Mao Zedong, covering thousands of miles.
Yes, it is often used metaphorically to describe any prolonged and difficult struggle or journey towards a goal, e.g., 'the long march towards gender equality'.
No, it is not common in casual conversation. It's primarily used in historical, political, or formal contexts, or as a deliberate metaphor.
Use 'Long March' (capitalised) for the historical event. Use 'long march' (lowercase) for metaphorical or general uses.
A specific historical event: the 1934-35 strategic retreat and journey of the Chinese Red Army, covering approximately 8,000 miles (12,800 km) across China.
Long march is usually formal, historical, political in register.
Long march: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɒŋ ˈmɑːtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɔːŋ ˈmɑːrtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a long march to justice.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'LONG' distance and 'MARCH'ing soldiers – it's a very, very long walk for an army with a purpose.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/STRUGGLE IS A JOURNEY; ACHIEVING A DIFFICULT GOAL IS AN ARDUOUS TREK.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'Long March' typically capitalised?