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

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

However, many of those economies are most likely to see big rises in their debts should the conflict in the Middle East be long-lasting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Despite extreme heat, unstable conditions, and long-lasting droughts, Lystrosaurus not only endured but flourished.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

A long-lasting, severe energy shock isn’t guaranteed right now.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

The cause of this long-lasting fame was a war told of in one of the world’s greatest poems, the Iliad, and the cause of the war went back to a dispute between three jealous goddesses.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Related Words

• abiding
• durable