prolonged

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

Examples of prolonged in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Paperwork in an office laid out the nature of the study being performed, which involved prolonged deprivation of food and water, forced swimming and exposure to wet bedding. —Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy Gabra Zackman Emma Kehlbeck Lance Neal, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024

More:High water and prolonged flooding are changing the ecosystem of the Upper Mississippi River, a new report finds Light pollution has also been a threat to birds, particularly during their migration journeys. —Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024

Rather, prolonged exposure and close distances increase the danger of hearing loss. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 22 Apr. 2024

Last year’s actors and writers' strikes, which had a prolonged effect on the movie pipeline, exacerbated holes in Hollywood’s release schedule. —Jake Coyle, Quartz, 21 Apr. 2024

Many Haitians had tired of the prolonged presence of U.N. troops — but the force had maintained a fragile stability across Haiti, said Foley, the former U.S. ambassador. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2024

Wet socks can lead to discomfort and blisters due to prolonged exposure to moisture. —Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 19 Apr. 2024

Long-standing evidence confirms that prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) rays contributes to the thinning of the skin, a loss of elasticity, and the development of creases and lines. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

He was also famously cast in The Naked Gun franchise as Detective Nordberg, a cop with a habit of suffering extremely prolonged and painful mishaps. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1525, in the meaning defined above