lasting
Americanadjective
noun
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a strong, durable, closely woven fabric for shoe uppers, coverings on buttons, etc.
-
Archaic. the quality of surviving or continuing and maintaining strength, effectiveness, etc.
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lasting
First recorded in 1125–75 lasting for def. 1; 1775–85 lasting for def. 2; Middle English (adjective); last 2 + -ing 2
Explanation
If something is lasting, it sticks around for a very long time. If you and your best pal have known each other since you were three, that's a lasting friendship. Remember that time when you wore a purple plaid shirt, a green tutu, and a top hat to school? You certainly made a lasting impression! And while using donation money to throw a fabulous party might be fun in the short term, spending the cash on new books for the school library will have more of a lasting impact. This adjective is great for things that last or continue for a long, 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.
According to Dr. Udelsman, anything that causes long lasting inflammation can raise the risk of cancer over time.
From Science Daily • Jul. 10, 2026
A 2021 study by restoration experts warned of the "additional risks" that a trip lasting more than two hours would pose to the tapestry.
From Barron's • Jul. 9, 2026
For now, with oil futures for near-term delivery up more than the those for delivery in later months, the market appears more concerned about near-term supply disruptions than about a lasting global shortage, he noted.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 8, 2026
Serious though they might appear, those political challenges likely won’t be lasting.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 8, 2026
If you didn’t stop the epidemic in the prisons, he said, any lasting accomplishments with the outside population would be questionable.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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.
