1
: having a long life : living a long time
long-lived siblings
a long-lived perennial
also : characterized by long life
a long-lived family
2
: lasting a long time : enduring
a long-lived fad
also : existing, functioning, or active for a period of time that is longer than usual or expected
a long-lived car
long-lived nuclear waste

Examples of long-lived in a Sentence

that sequoia tree is especially long-lived, having reached an age generally estimated to be at least 3,000 years much to the relief of his parents, the youth's interest in the piano proved to be long-lived
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.
The current event will be long-lived even for a heat dome. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 25 July 2025 The giant cactus is exceptionally resilient and long-lived—but not invincible. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 July 2025 Third parties, Hofstadter observed, are almost never long-lived. Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025 Bats, however, are unusually long-lived for their body size. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 17 May 2025 Boxwoods are easy to grow, green year-round, and long-lived. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2025 Organizations that deal with sensitive and/or long-lived data, such as healthcare providers, insurers, banks and government agencies, should prioritize developing PQC strategies sooner for sensitive data and/or transactions. Scott Buchholz, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Organizations that deal with sensitive and/or long-lived data, such as healthcare providers, insurers, banks and government agencies, should prioritize developing PQC strategies sooner for sensitive data and/or transactions. Scott Buchholz, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 The streamer has given a series order for a live-action Scooby-Doo series, based on the beloved and very long-lived cartoon Great Dane and his human, mystery-solving friends. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of long-lived was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Long-lived.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long-lived. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

long-lived

adjective
ˈlȯŋ-ˈlīvd,
-ˈlivd
: living or lasting long

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