# prolonged

/pɹəˈɫɔŋd/ (US) · /pɹəlˈɒŋd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prolonged
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. lasting a long time

adjective · CEFR B2

lasting for a long time, especially longer than usual.

For teachers: continuing for a notably long period; extended in duration or time.

- The country suffered through a prolonged period of dry weather this summer.
- The patient required a prolonged recovery period following the surgery, as the complications had been more severe than the medical team initially anticipated.

### 2. made something last longer

verb · CEFR B2

the past tense of 'prolong', meaning you made something last for more time.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'prolong', indicating the act of extending the duration of an event or state.

- They prolonged their stay by two days because they liked the city so much.
- The mediator's intervention effectively prolonged the negotiations, allowing both parties to reconsider their positions before the final deadline.

## Examples

- The meeting was prolonged by a long debate over the budget.
- The patient required a prolonged stay in the hospital to recover from the surgery.
- Economists warned that a prolonged period of high interest rates could stifle consumer spending and lead to a significant market correction.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.