elongate

1 of 2

verb

elon·​gate i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt 

(ˌ)ē-,

ˈē-ˌlȯŋ-

elongated; elongating

transitive verb

: to extend the length of

intransitive verb

: to grow in length

elongate

2 of 2

variant of elongate entry 1

Did you know?

Elongate is often found in scientific writing, but the adjective elongated is more common, and frequently used to describe body parts in discussions of anatomy. This was even the case when the superhero Elongated Man made his appearance back in 1960. But some other characters with the same powers—Plastic Man, Elastic Lad, and Mr. Fantastic—ended up having longer careers.

Synonyms

Verb

• lengthen
• extend
• stretch
• increase

• long
• extended

Examples of elongate in a Sentence

Verb

These stretching exercises can help elongate your leg muscles.

New medical procedures have elongated the careers of many athletes.

the giraffe's elongate neck is thought to be the result of natural selection

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

At Luar, Dahling glued elongated lash extensions to the waterline to look like eccentric eyewear at Luar. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025

True to a Norv Turner teaching point, Herbert and Smith wing it far without elongating their delivery. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025

The bigger cloud, nearer the main cluster, was elongated and diffuse. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025

There’s plenty of research to back the diet’s benefits for weight management, elongating your lifespan and reducing your risk of certain chronic illnesses. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Late Latin elongatus, past participle of elongare to withdraw, from Latin e- + longus

First Known Use

Verb

1578, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

elongate

1 of 2 verb

elon·​gate i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt 

elongated; elongating

: to make or grow longer

elongation

(ˌ)ē-ˌlȯŋ-ˈgā-shən

noun

elongate

2 of 2 adjective

variants or elongated

i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt-əd

: stretched out

especially : being much greater in length than in width

Medical Definition

elongate

1 of 2 verb

elon·​gate i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt 

elongated; elongating

transitive verb

: to extend the length of

intransitive verb

: to grow in length

elongate

2 of 2 adjective

variants or elongated

: long in proportion to width