Meanings
prepositional phrase
- idiomaticTo a considerably large extent, easily. Typically used in the negative to indicate something far removed and not easily altered.
“Now this won’t do - not by a long way”.
1863 Hedderwick's miscellany of instructive and entertaining literature, ed. by J. Hedderwick. (1863). United Kingdom: (n.p.).p.180Synonyms: by far § Synonyms
Synonyms & antonyms
prepositional phraseTo a considerably large extent, easily. Typically used in the negative to indicate something far removed and not easily altered.
Similar
by far § Synonyms
Also see
Cite this entry
APA
by a long way. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20a%20long%20way
MLA
“by a long way.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20a%20long%20way. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “by a long way,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20a%20long%20way.
Source: by a long way on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.