prolonged

American  

[pruh-lawngd, -longd] / prəˈlɔŋd, -ˈlɒŋd /

adjective

1. lasting a long time; lengthy.

   Regular or prolonged absence from school without a valid reason may result in the absentee being barred from examinations.

2. lengthened or extended in time or space.

   Technological innovations in the ICU have led to artificially prolonged life, with associated costs.

   Abnormally shortened or prolonged telomeres are a hallmark of cancer.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of prolong.

Other Word Forms

• unprolonged adjective
• well-prolonged adjective

Etymology

Origin of prolonged

prolong ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Edna Foa, a clinical psychologist, died March 24 at 88, had pioneered prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Brands and bottle manufacturers warn that a prolonged war will risk making a crucial commodity prohibitively expensive for many Indians.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Yet a seeming recovery in manufacturing after a prolonged slump faces fresh obstacles, the most notable being the conflict with Iran.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

The trauma of losing her house left her in a prolonged depression.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

All had a history of prolonged exposure to organic phosphorus insecticides.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson