long-lasting
Americanadjective
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enduring or existing for a long period of time.
a long-lasting friendship.
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effective for a relatively long period of time.
a long-lasting pain reliever.
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resisting the effects of wear or use over a long period.
a long-lasting fabric used for work clothes.
Etymology
Origin of long-lasting
First recorded in 1520–30
Explanation
Long-lasting things stick around for a while. If the medicine you're taking for your sore throat has long-lasting side effects, they'll affect you for many weeks or even months. A long-lasting relationship lasts for years, and long-lasting makeup stays on your face all day, until you wash it off at night. This adjective can mean that something is durable or resilient, or in other words that it holds up over time. Other things are simply long-lasting by coincidence — they've just been there for a long time.
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.
“But as things moved more toward that diplomatic approach, I think the concerns around whether this would be a continued escalation or a more long-lasting event have subsided.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Morgan strategists said they did not expect most attacks to cause long-lasting disruptions, though some facilities will face lengthy repair timelines — and at least eight assets appeared to be severely damaged.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026
The findings, published in JAMA, point to a long-lasting treatment option that could improve how hypertension is managed.
From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026
Our profitability surge might be long-lasting, or even permanent.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
These examples illustrate the broad range of questions concerning cultural idiosyncrasies, unrelated to environment and initially of little significance, that might evolve into influential and long-lasting cultural features.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
