long-acting

American  

[lawng-ak-ting, long-] / ˈlɔŋˈæk tɪŋ, ˈlɒŋ- /

adjective

Pharmacology.

1. sustained-release.

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long-acting British  

adjective

1. (of a drug) slowly effective after initial dosage, but maintaining its effects over a long period of time, being slowly absorbed and persisting in the tissues before being excreted Compare intermediate-acting short-acting

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Etymology

Origin of long-acting

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Insulin glargine refers to a long-acting, synthetic analog of human insulin which is used to keep blood sugar levels steady for a full 24 hours.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Cornell University scientists have taken a major step toward developing a safe, reversible, long-acting and 100% effective nonhormonal male contraceptive, considered the holy grail of male contraception.

From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026

In patients who already produce normal or elevated levels of endogenous GLP-1, flooding those same receptors with long-acting agonists may push a finely tuned system past its adaptive range.

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026

One way for new entrants to compete with Lilly and Novo will be with long-acting alternatives to today’s weekly shots.

From Barron's • Jan. 12, 2026

It’s now part of a small but growing number of mobile programs aimed at increasing rural access to women’s health services, including long-acting reversible contraception.

From Salon • Oct. 20, 2024