extend and lengthen imply a drawing out in space or time but extend may also imply increase in width, scope, area, or range.
extend a vacation
extend welfare services
lengthen a skirt
lengthen the workweek
prolong suggests chiefly increase in duration especially beyond usual limits.
prolonged illness
protract adds to prolong implications of needlessness, vexation, or indefiniteness.
protracted litigation
Examples of prolong in a Sentence
Additives are used to prolong the shelf life of packaged food.
High interest rates were prolonging the recession.
Recent Examples on the WebRussia, predictably, hammered on what has become a key talking point — that U.S. assistance would do little more than prolong a bloody confrontation.—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024 The Heat kept fouling to prolong the game, but the 76ers shot a perfect 12 of 12 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to hold on for the comeback win.—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prolong
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prolong.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French prolonguer, from Late Latin prolongare, from Latin pro- forward + longus long
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