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
a decades-long career
… 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.
That program will help Historic Denver finish a decades-long project to document all 160,000 buildings in the city. Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2026 But the memory of decades-long civil unrest, largely ended by a peace agreement signed in 2016, is still fresh enough to provide a real-life context for Teddy’s machinations. Alison Herman, Variety, 11 Jan. 2026 For the comedic pair, the project is a natural extension of their decades-long creative partnership. Sarah Jones, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026 Ferrovial’s decades-long agreements to operate toll roads around cities, including Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth, now underpin 80% of its valuation, Madridejos says. Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Decades-long.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decades-long. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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