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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Both parties are preparing to challenge ballots, especially if mail-in or absentee votes are decisive in swing states, raising the possibility of prolonged court fights. Mike Allen, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024 External candidates also face more prolonged vetting processes, with additional reference checks and broader consensus needed. Gina Riley, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 After a prolonged period of low incidence rates following the emergence of COVID-19, M. pneumoniae cases are now on the rise. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 The cooldown of the nation’s labor market has coincided with a prolonged period of elevated interest rates. Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024 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 16 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!