decades-long

adjective

de·​cades-long ˈde-ˌkādz-ˌlȯŋ How to pronounce decades-long (audio)
variants or less commonly decadeslong
: lasting two or more decades : occurring over a period of two or more decades
… no discussion of wolf research would be complete without mention of this fascinating, decades-long study.Robert R. Ream
His decades-long accumulation of books makes an eclectic mix …Stephen Mihm

Examples of decades-long 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.
After a decades-long investigation, police in California have identified a serial rapist who died by suicide in Michigan in 1997, linking him to multiple attacks in the state and across the country. Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025 What started as a protest against outsiders controlling the town turned into a decades-long tradition that still lives on today. Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025 Stern, 71, has also been long-rumored to be retiring after his decades-long career as a talk show host. Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025 Thomas Schumacher, a leading force in growing Disney Theatrical Group into one of the most successful and influential theater producers on Broadway and around the world, will step down as DTG’s chief creative officer at the end of this month after a decades-long tenure at the company. Gordon Cox, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decades-long

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decades-long was in 1930

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decades-long.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decades-long. Accessed 13 Sep. 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!