long-lasting

American  

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

adjective

1. enduring or existing for a long period of time.

   a long-lasting friendship.

2. effective for a relatively long period of time.

   a long-lasting pain reliever.

3. resisting the effects of wear or use over a long period.

   a long-lasting fabric used for work clothes.

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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

Merz warned the war's effects were likely to be long-lasting.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

But there is less optimism over how much this will feed through to people's finances, with fears long-lasting damage has already been set in motion.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Even if the war ends fast, damage already done to oil production facilities could have long-lasting effects.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

For many, the pain becomes long-lasting, disrupting work, sleep, and everyday life.

From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026

The long-lasting, crowded populations suggested in Acre are exactly the sort that archaeologists long thought were ecologically impossible.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• abiding
• durable