1
: having a long life : living a long time
long-lived siblings
a long-lived perennial
also : characterized by long life
a long-lived family
2
: lasting a long time : enduring
a long-lived fad
also : existing, functioning, or active for a period of time that is longer than usual or expected
a long-lived car
long-lived nuclear waste

Examples of long-lived in a Sentence

that sequoia tree is especially long-lived, having reached an age generally estimated to be at least 3,000 years much to the relief of his parents, the youth's interest in the piano proved to be long-lived
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.
The Dead, in particular, would go on to have a fiercely devoted and long-lived fandom, even as the band didn’t enjoy the radio success of the Airplane or Big Brother until 1987’s surprise hit Touch of Grey. Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2024 The growth here in America seems to be more long-lived, as sales for the three-month period to the end of September 2024 set a new record in EV deliveries, adds Kelley Blue Book. Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 15 Oct. 2024 The compound engine, as long-lived as a human heart, labouring in huge, tender, pumping motions—steel gymnastics—the aromas rising as if from a kitchen. Tomas Tranströmer, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024 The final shot of the season settles just above the very recognizable ears and wispy white hairs of Yoda, long-lived enough to have seen the Republic at its height before its fall. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 17 July 2024 That confinement also sustains the GRS, making the storm extremely long-lived, but its actual age has been an ongoing astronomical enigma. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 12 July 2024 The intrepid and long-lived storm is gearing up for its third and final landfall, this time in Texas. Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 6 July 2024 But that momentum wasn’t long-lived and is starting to slip again, with high interest rates and concerns about the upcoming elections top of mind. Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 2 July 2024 Chalk down one of those as Genghis Khan’s, and that leaves ten other men who initiated long-lived and widely spread family trees. Laura Clark, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of long-lived was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near long-lived

Cite this Entry

“Long-lived.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long-lived. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

long-lived

adjective
ˈlȯŋ-ˈlīvd,
-ˈlivd
: living or lasting long

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