prolonged

adjective

pro·​longed prə-ˈlȯŋd How to pronounce prolonged (audio)
: 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 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
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These families are among those in Israel who have paid the most agonizing personal cost of two years of prolonged war. Daniel Estrin, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025 The timing also highlights how a prolonged government shutdown can ripple through critical programs that directly affect household budgets nationwide. Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 Creativity is one characteristic the Giants haven’t lacked during the prolonged funk that has encompassed the franchise. Dan Duggan, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025 Yet, if a person is not appropriately dressed or is unable to regulate the temperature, prolonged exposure to any environment that is cooler than the body might result in hypothermia. Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prolonged

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1525, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prolonged was circa 1525

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Cite this Entry

“Prolonged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prolonged. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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