extend

verb

ex·tend | \ ik-ˈstend

extended; extending; extends

Definition of extend

transitive verb

1 : to spread or stretch forth : unbend extended both her arms

2a : to stretch out to fullest length

b : to cause (an animal, such as a horse) to move at full stride

c : to exert (oneself) to full capacity could work long and hard without seeming to extend himself

d(1) : to increase the bulk of (as by adding a cheaper substance or a modifier)

(2) : adulterate

3 [ Middle English, from Medieval Latin extendere (from Latin) or Anglo-French estendre, from Old French ]

a British : to take possession of (something, such as land) by a writ of extent

b obsolete : to take by force

4a : to make the offer of : proffer extending aid to the needy extending their greetings

b : to make available extending credit to customers

5a : to cause to reach (as in distance or scope) national authority was extended over new territories

b : to cause to be longer : prolong extend the side of a triangle extended their visit another day also : to prolong the time of payment of

c : advance, further extending her potential through job training

6a : to cause to be of greater area or volume : enlarge extended the patio to the back of the house

b : to increase the scope, meaning, or application of : broaden beauty, I suppose, opens the heart, extends the consciousness— Algernon Blackwood

c archaic : exaggerate

intransitive verb

1 : to stretch out in distance, space, or time : reach their jurisdiction extended over the whole area

2 : to reach in scope or application his concern extends beyond mere business to real service to his customers

Other Words from extend Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about extend

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Other Words from extend

extendability \ ik-ˌsten-də-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

extendable or less commonly extendible \ ik-ˈsten-də-bəl

\ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for extend

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 extend in a Sentence

He extended a hand in greeting. sitting with both legs fully extended The table measures eight feet long when it is fully extended. The table extends to eight feet in length. The woods extend for miles to the west. Their knowledge of the family's history extends back to colonial times. Their influence extends well beyond their immediate circle of friends. His popularity extends from coast to coast.

Recent Examples on the Web

Puerto Rico’s financial overseers approved a 30-year fiscal framework that boosts the amount potentially available to repay debt by 54% while extending their supervisory powers for the first time over the U.S. territory’s 78 municipalities. — Andrew Scurria, WSJ, "Puerto Rico Board Boosts 30-Year Debt Payment Forecast," 9 May 2019 The next year Sara founded the nonprofit organization Free Mom Hugs, and extended her outreach even more. — Beth Dreher, Woman's Day, "Meet the Woman Who Stands In at LGBTQ Weddings," 4 May 2019 The first, on her main Instagram feed, features a photo of Heughan posing in a chair, with his middle finger slightly extended. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Outlander's Caitriona Balfe Just Wished her On-Screen Husband Sam Heughan Happy Birthday," 30 Apr. 2019 The bill would extend this from three days to 10 days. — Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, "How to Get the H.R. 8 Universal Background Checks Bill Passed in the Senate," 28 Feb. 2019 The damage extended as far as the Louvre, when a number of passersby were crushed after protesters pulled down one of the iron gates at the Jardins des Tuileries. — Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and More Closed Saturday Ahead of Paris’s ‘Yellow Vest’ Protests," 7 Dec. 2018 Amazon’s success with Alexa on its Echo device has helped Amazon extend its reach to the growing audience of American smart speaker owners. — Rani Molla, Recode, "Watch Scott Galloway’s presentation on the future of retail from Code Commerce," 19 Sep. 2018 Some competing Whiskey Lake notebooks are shipping with a battery-plus mode that extends life even longer than normal. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "HP's EliteBook 800 G6 notebook series adds convenience, privacy features," 16 Apr. 2019 In my opinion, the holy grail of all color-depositing products is Viral Colorwash, a shampoo that not only extends your hair color’s vibrance, but also adds pigment. — Jaime Osnato, SELF, "How I Keep My Temporary Hair Color Fresh to Death," 4 Apr. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'extend.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near extend

Statistics for extend

Last Updated

15 May 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for extend

The first known use of extend was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for extend

extend

verb

English Language Learners Definition of extend

: to cause (something, such as your arm or leg) to straighten out or to stretch out

: to become longer or to be able to become longer

: to continue in a specified direction or over a specified distance, space, or time

See the full definition for extend in the English Language Learners Dictionary

extend

verb

ex·tend | \ ik-ˈstend

extended; extending

Kids Definition of extend

1 : to hold out extend a hand

2 : to stretch out or across something There was no way of going around it, for it seemed to extend … as far as they could see …— L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz

3 : to make longer extend a visit

4 : stretch entry 1 sense 2 extend a sail

5 : enlarge extend the meaning of a word