long-lasting

American

[lawng-las-ting, -lah-sting, long-] / ˈlɔŋˈlæs tɪŋ, -ˈlɑ stɪŋ, ˈlɒŋ- /

adjective

enduring or existing for a long period of time.

a long-lasting friendship.
effective for a relatively long period of time.

a long-lasting pain reliever.
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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

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.

The rewards you receive in return are intangible yet long-lasting.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 20, 2026

He spoke about long-lasting black granite floors at the White House, people born with machine guns in their hands, pallets of cash and the Space Force.

From Salon • Jun. 19, 2026

Policymakers will have to grapple with long-lasting risks exposed by the conflict.

From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026

It also relaxed efficiency requirements for long-lasting tires.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2026

The supernatural link between aesthetics, ratios, and the universe became one of the central and long-lasting tenets of Western civilization.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

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