prolonged

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​longed prə-ˈlȯŋd 

: continuing for a notably long time : extended in duration

a prolonged delay

a prolonged recession

a prolonged absence

a prolonged drought

And in today's competitive situation a prolonged strike can very easily lead to a serious loss of market share which is difficult, if not impossible, to recapture.

—David Reid

Sometimes the only answer is a prolonged time away from the sport followed by a slow, steady reconditioning program along with physiotherapy of some type …

—William J. Goldwag

prolongedly

prə-ˈlȯŋ-əd-lē 

adverb

… and Andy demonstrates … the odd talent of coughing in his sleep, coughing prolongedly without waking himself.

—John Updike

prolonged

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of prolong

Examples of prolonged in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Fast Twitch Fibers and Slow Twitch Fibers Within the muscle there are slow twitch fibers and fast twitch fibers— slow twitch fibers are responsible for prolonged efforts such as walking; fast twitch fibers are essential for power and speed. — Laura Solla, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026

Bent-Over Rear Delt Fly Bent-over rear delt flys strengthen the back of your shoulders, helping support good posture and counteract the effects of prolonged sitting or screen time. — Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 3 Nov. 2026

Emanuel warned that an oil price spike, widening credit spreads and an economic slowdown could fuel a prolonged sell-off and create a challenging start to 2027. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

Each night, Portia settles upside down beneath its silk abode, alternating prolonged stillness with brief episodes of retinal movements, twitching, and occasional leg curling. — New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1525, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prolonged

• belonged
• longed
• pronged
• thronged
• wronged