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

Animal advocate Mike Wagner, a former board member of the nonprofit Kitten’s First and a shelter partner, criticized the department over its prolonged issues. —Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 19 June 2026

One of the toughest positions for the team to fill has been catcher, with budding superstar Drake Baldwin and veteran Sean Murphy both going down with prolonged injuries this season. —Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

Study author Alexandros Vgontzas, MD, director of the Sleep Research and Treatment Center at Penn State College of Medicine, told Health the results suggest that excessive daytime sleepiness and prolonged sleep latency may be important risk factors for hypertension. —Zoe Cunniffe, Health, 18 June 2026

While strawberries can tolerate some heat, prolonged temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit can reduce fruit quality and production. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1525, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prolonged

• belonged
• longed
• pronged
• thronged
• wronged