longanticipated

Longanticipated is an English compound adjective used to describe something that has been awaited for a prolonged period. In standard usage the form is typically hyphenated as long-anticipated, though some writers also use the two-word variant long anticipated; the single-word version longanticipated is uncommon and may be regarded as nonstandard or a typographical variant.

It is most often applied to releases, events, or appearances that have generated extended anticipation, such as films, books, software, anniversaries, or reunions. The term emphasizes the duration of the wait and the level of public or cultural interest surrounding the subject.

Long-anticipated is closely related to long-awaited and much-anticipated. Style guides generally encourage hyphenation when the compound directly modifies a noun (for example, a long-anticipated sequel) to aid readability; when not modifying a noun, the phrase may appear with space or as a nonhyphenated adjective in some styles.

Historically, the construction reflects productive word formation in English by combining an adverbial modifier with a past participle. While the exact dating is not fixed, the compound has gained wide usage in contemporary writing, especially in media, popular culture, and marketing discourse.