a long time coming

idiom

: arriving or happening after a lot of time has passed
His promotion was a long time coming.

Examples of a long time coming in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The baby’s homecoming is a long time coming as his parents previously had expected him to be discharged last fall and then again by the past Christmas. Raven Brunner, People.com, 14 July 2025 Bieber’s seventh album has been a long time coming, with Justin last releasing an album in 2021. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 10 July 2025 Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/AP The Pentagon review is a prudent stock-take, and one a long time coming for certain types of missiles and munitions, said Ed Arnold, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think tank. Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025 This moment was the fulfillment of a dream a long time coming. Francesca Street, CNN Money, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for a long time coming

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“A long time coming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20long%20time%20coming. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!