Long-standing for Dummies

Long-standing means something that has been in existence or has been happening for a really long time. Imagine you have a favorite tree in your backyard that has been growing there for as long as you can remember. It has been there before you were born, before your parents were born, and even before your grandparents. That tree is what we would call "long-standing" because it has been standing there for a very, very long time, perhaps decades or even centuries.

Similarly, we can use "long-standing" to describe things other than trees. Let's say your family has been living in the same house for many generations, and the house still looks exactly the same as it did years ago. We can say that your family has a long-standing tradition of living in that house. The tradition of your family living in that house has been going on for such a long time that it has become a significant part of your family's history and identity.

Not only can we use "long-standing" to talk about physical objects or traditions, but we can also use it to describe situations or problems that have been around for a long time. For example, imagine there is an issue in your school where some students are consistently being excluded and feeling lonely. If this issue has been happening for years and nobody has been able to solve it, we can call it a long-standing problem. It means that the problem has been going on for a really long time, and it needs some serious attention and effort to be resolved.

So, in a nutshell, "long-standing" simply refers to something that has been around or happening for a very long time. Whether it's a tree that has stood tall for centuries, a tradition that has been passed down through generations, or a problem that has persisted for years, when we use the term "long-standing," we are acknowledging that it has a history and has been part of the world for a considerable period.