protract

verb

pro·​tract prō-ˈtrakt How to pronounce protract (audio)
prə-
protracted; protracting; protracts

transitive verb

1
: to prolong in time or space : continue
2
: to extend forward or outward compare retract sense 1
3
archaic : delay, defer
protractive adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for protract

extend, lengthen, prolong, protract mean to draw out or add to so as to increase in length.

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 protract in a Sentence

the highway project was protracted by years of litigation
Recent Examples on the Web Rarely have intraparty battles between Republicans in Texas been as bitter, protracted and consequential as the primary contests culminating in Election Day on Tuesday. J. David Goodman, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Saturday’s event marked the 2-year anniversary of the bitter invasion and protracted war that has displaced millions and killed, according to recent numbers from President Volodymyr Zelensky, 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers. Joe Rubin, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2024 These take the form of painful, protracted firsthand recollections of bloodshed and desolation, from stories of buildings destroyed by artillery shells, to accounts of mothers and grandmothers forced to step up from behind the confines of femininity and social expectation. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Feb. 2024 Even if Hamas agrees to the framework, negotiations between the two sides regarding those numbers could prove protracted. Matt Bradley, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2024 Pitt’s revelations came in the wake of his 2016 divorce from Jolie, which has devolved into bitter and protracted legal battles over the custody of their six children and the division of assets. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024 Amazon’s bigger outlay for content came even amid Hollywood’s twin WGA and SAG-AFTRA protracted strikes last year that halted most TV and movie productions for months. Todd Spangler, Variety, 2 Feb. 2024 The United States fought bloody and protracted wars in Korea and Vietnam and yet abstained from playing its nuclear trump card. Andrew F. Krepinevich, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023 That could mean months and months of major swing-state stumping, millions of dollars in ads filling the airwaves, reams of daily headlines and protracted battles between the two candidates, their campaigns and their surrogates. Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'protract.' 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

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

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of protract was in 1540

Dictionary Entries Near protract

Cite this Entry

“Protract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/protract. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

protract

verb
pro·​tract prō-ˈtrakt How to pronounce protract (audio)

Medical Definition

protract

transitive verb
pro·​tract prō-ˈtrakt How to pronounce protract (audio)
: to extend forward or outward
the mandible is protracted and retracted in chewing
compare retract

More from Merriam-Webster on protract

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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