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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This combination of active weather and prolonged cold may bring a continued stretch of winter disruptions for many Americans. Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025 And what was with that prolonged look Jake gave Vince and Sharon at the end? Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 7 Feb. 2025 On the unscripted side, two separate and prolific indie buyers said all the major documentaries are carrying $10 million sticker prices — which makes for prolonged and complex negotiations, many over worldwide rights. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 7 Feb. 2025 Heavy rain last winter fueled dense plant growth in Southern California, then a prolonged drought beginning in October dried out the new brush, creating tinder for wildfires. Nidhi Sharma, NBC News, 6 Feb. 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

Dictionary Entries Near prolonged

Cite this Entry

“Prolonged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prolonged. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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