Overlong

Overlong is an adjective used to describe something that is excessively long or longer than is appropriate, especially in writing, speech, film, or other communications. It connotes that the length surpasses what is necessary for the purpose, and that the excess is undesirable.

In criticism and journalism, overlong is commonly applied to novels, essays, speeches, films, or scenes that feel tedious, repetitive, or padded. It is often used alongside synonyms such as protracted, lengthy, verbose, or long-winded, with slightly different emphasis: overlong focuses on the excess length itself rather than merely strength of argument; long-winded emphasizes rambling style.

Etymology: The word is formed from the prefix over- plus long, denoting excessive length. It is a standard part of English and has been used since at least the early modern period.

Usage notes: While nearly any medium can be described as overlong, the term is most common in evaluative writing. It can be abstract or figurative: "the overlong explanation" or "an overlong chase scene."

See also: verbosity, prolixity, long-windedness.