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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White scored 23 points, including 16 in the third quarter, in Saturday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks, snapping out of a prolonged shooting slump. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2025 Burn scars can take years to recover, leaving densely populated areas in Southern California at prolonged risk, especially if future heavy rains occur. Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025 The Mid-Atlantic states have felt prolonged cold snaps: Washington, D.C., has seen temperatures 6 degrees below average; Philadelphia 5 degrees below average and New York City around 4 degrees below average, according to Accuweather. Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025 These warning signs include severe symptoms, prolonged symptoms, and additional concerns like underlying health conditions. Heidi Cope, Health, 26 Jan. 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 31 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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