Synonyms

long-drawn-out

American

[lawng-drawn-out, long-] / ˈlɔŋˈdrɔnˈaʊt, ˈlɒŋ- /

Also drawn-out,

adjective

lasting a very long time; protracted.

a long-drawn-out story.
of great length; long.

a long-drawn-out line of soldiers.

long-drawn-out British

adjective

over-prolonged or extended

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of long-drawn-out

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Long-drawn-out trials in India often mean that victims have to wait years before they can get justice.

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2018

Long-drawn-out talking cures were shortened or replaced by prescription pills, and some doctors found their offices filled with grateful patients.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023