drag out
phrasal verb
dragged out; dragging out; drags out
1
: to cause (something) to take more time than necessary
He dragged out the speech much too long.
2
: to force (something, such as a confession) from (someone) : to make (someone) tell one (something)
The teacher eventually dragged a confession out of one of the students.
Doctors sometimes have to drag information out of their patients.
Examples of drag out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Janey ran to the van and, finding no towel, dragged out a blanket, shaking off the crumbs.
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Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
Ultimately, the best policy for the United States is to drag out the status quo for as long as possible.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
This false hope can drag out their heartbreak far longer than a direct, respectful rejection might.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Amid their decision to drag out extension talks, the Cowboys now have to come to grips with trading the homegrown star.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drag out
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Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
Ultimately, the best policy for the United States is to drag out the status quo for as long as possible.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
This false hope can drag out their heartbreak far longer than a direct, respectful rejection might.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Amid their decision to drag out extension talks, the Cowboys now have to come to grips with trading the homegrown star.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drag out
Cite this Entry
“Drag out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drag%20out. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.
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