protract

pro·tract

verb \prō-ˈtrakt, prə-\

Definition of PROTRACT

transitive verb

1

archaic : delay, defer

2

: to prolong in time or space : continue

3

: to extend forward or outward — compare retract 1

— pro·trac·tive \-ˈtrak-tiv\ adjective

Examples of PROTRACT

1. <the highway project was protracted by years of litigation>

Origin of PROTRACT

Latin protractus, past participle of protrahere, literally, to draw forward, from pro- forward + trahere to draw — more at pro-

First Known Use: 1540

Related to PROTRACT

Synonyms: drag (out), draw out, elongate, lengthen, outstretch, prolong, extend, stretch

Antonyms: abbreviate, abridge, curtail, cut, cut back, shorten

Related Words: amplify, enlarge, expand, increase; attenuate, thin

Near Antonyms: decrease, diminish, lessen, reduce; thicken

[+]more[-]hide

See Synonym Discussion at extend

Rhymes with PROTRACT

abstract, attract, class act, compact, contact, contract, crookbacked, detract, didact, diffract, distract, enact, entr'acte, epact, exact, extract, humpbacked, hunchbacked, impact, infract, intact, mossbacked, playact, react, redact, refract, retract, sex act, subtract, swaybacked, transact, unbacked