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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Plants and their parts are useful crime evidence because plant cell walls, spores, and pollens are distinctive enough to be recognizable and are composed of strong compounds that are resistant to destruction over prolonged periods of time. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 Despite the trees' resilience and speedy recovery, researchers found a decline in young aspens reaching maturity due to prolonged drought and unmanaged animals grazing. John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 18 Nov. 2024 Fed by our changing snowpack, the mighty Colorado provides water to nearly 50 million Americans, irrigates some of the most important agricultural lands in the world, is over-allocated and stressed by prolonged drought and climate change. Bill Ritter Jr., The Denver Post, 3 Nov. 2024 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 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 26 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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