prolonged

USAGE SUMMARY

'prolonged' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or process that has gone on for a long time, or is expected to last longer than usual. For example: "The negotiations have been protracted, but both sides are finally reaching an agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So if the beginning of his care was at times dramatic and shocking – and it was then on to helping mum get up to speed on incontinence products – the second stage was agonisingly prolonged.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The cotton mills, on which Mumbai's original fame and fortunes were built, had been killed off by the prolonged strike of 1982 (and chronic neglect by their owners).

The Guardian

DuPont declined to comment on its workers' potentially prolonged exposure to the gas.

The Guardian - Business

The England innings had been prolonged by a further 20 overs in which they added 91 for the last four wickets and it was largely a triumph for Root, a demonstration of mature batting from a man still only 24.

The Guardian - Sport

During this past tour, I am embarrassed to admit that I have had more than one prolonged toilet cry and a "Come on, get a hold of yourself, you got this" conversation with myself in a bathroom mirror when particularly exasperated and tired out.

The Guardian - Music

In most other cases, when comments have been removed because they are offensive, abusive or threatening, we feel that the overall community and editorial experience would suffer (not to mention flame-wars would be prolonged even further) if they were left up.

The Guardian

The invasion of Iraq "delegitimated" America's moral and political leadership in the eyes of many, cost $3tn, caused 35,000 US casualties, and prolonged the war in Afghanistan.

The Guardian

Shackling for prolonged periods.

The Guardian

Four young men prolonged the spectacular assault there for three days, lighting fires and executing hostages, as television cameras rolled outside.

The Economist

And, with the fear of prolonged blockades prompting many people to rush to take their money out of banks, the authorities have had to impose restrictions on withdrawals to avert a collapse of the financial system.The Supreme Court's decision means that Mr Yushchenko's supporters are close to achieving their dream of repeating last year's "rose revolution" in Georgia.

The Economist

Add extra copies of them to these organisms' chromosomes, or force the existing copies to produce more protein than normal, and life is prolonged.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "prolonged" to emphasize the length or duration of an event, situation, or process, particularly when it has significant implications or consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "prolonged" when a simpler term like "long" or "extended" would suffice. "Prolonged" carries a heavier connotation and is best reserved for situations where the duration is notably significant or problematic.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "prolonged" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate an extended duration or continuation. Ludwig's examples show it describing events, processes, and exposures. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a grammatically correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "prolonged" functions primarily as an adjective, used to describe something that lasts for an extended duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically sound and common across various contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific writing. The word often implies a significant or problematic duration. While alternatives like "extended duration" or "lengthy period" exist, "prolonged" carries a heavier connotation, best suited for situations where the duration is especially noteworthy. Remember to avoid overuse in place of simpler terms and always ensure the context warrants the emphasis on extended duration. The sources are generally very authoritative, which makes "prolonged" a strong word to use when trying to write well.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extended duration

Focuses on the length of time something lasts.

lengthy period

Highlights the considerable amount of time involved.

protracted

Implies a drawn-out or unnecessarily long duration.

sustained

Emphasizes the continuation or maintenance of something over time.

lingering

Suggests something that remains or persists longer than expected.

drawn-out

Similar to protracted, but can also imply a loss of interest or energy.

long-lasting

Focuses on the enduring quality or impact of something.

carried on

Indicates continuation of activity.

uninterrupted

Highlights the absence of breaks or pauses in the duration.

continued

Implies the maintenance of a process or activity.

FAQs

How can I use "prolonged" in a sentence?

You can use "prolonged" to describe something that lasts for a long time, such as "a prolonged period of economic stagnation" or "prolonged exposure to the sun".

What are some alternatives to "prolonged"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "extended duration", "lengthy period", or "protracted".

Is it correct to say "prolonged period of time"?

While grammatically correct, "prolonged period" is often sufficient. Adding "of time" can sometimes be redundant, unless you want to emphasize the temporal aspect.

What is the difference between "prolonged" and "extended"?

"Prolonged" often implies that something has lasted longer than expected or desired, whereas "extended" simply means something has been made longer.