A long stretch of time passes, or perhaps only seconds.

"For these two former executives, even several years in a state prison will be a very long stretch of time."

She wouldn't look up at Carroll for long stretches of time.

At the peace he found himself on the beach for the first long stretch of time since 1779.

But some leave much more, and then expect the items back after a long stretch of time.

The ideas that made up the story came together over a long stretch of time.

For stretches of time there was little sound other than his own footsteps.

After that, I'd be able to go for longer stretches of time.

Suddenly, the 130 years between then and now doesn't seem such a great stretch of time.

I've been able to put it aside, for long stretches of time anyway.