prolonged

adjective

pro·​longed prə-ˈlȯŋd 

: 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

prə-ˈlȯŋ-əd-lē 

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

Industry groups in the U.S. and Europe are lobbying for carve-outs or exemptions, warning that a prolonged tariff exchange could disrupt key supply chains, especially in heavy machinery and automotive sectors. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025

Even more, the experts added, a prolonged hike in bond yields could in theory threaten the financial system if costly debt strains the balance sheets of large banks and other key firms. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2025

Inflation and interest rate Bear Market (2022): High inflation and aggressive monetary tightening by the Federal Reserve caused prolonged market declines. —Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

When illness reduces physical activity, prolonged bed rest can lead to muscle atrophy (muscle loss), decreasing daily calorie expenditure. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1525, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prolonged

• belonged
• longed
• pronged
• thronged
• wronged