extend

verb

Definition of extendnext
1
as in to lengthen
to make longer our guests from out of town extended their visit by a week

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2
as in to offer
to put before another for acceptance or consideration the couple extended an invitation to join them for a get-together at their house after the concert

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3
as in to expand
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area you can extend that chaise longue so that it lies completely flat

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4
as in to lead
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction our backyard extends all the way to that brook

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5
as in to increase
to make greater in size, amount, or number embarked on a series of wars intended to extend his empire

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6
as in to dilute
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances the company extends its ice cream with thickeners and other additives

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb extend contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of extend are lengthen, prolong, and protract. While all these words 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

When would prolong be a good substitute for extend?

The words prolong and extend can be used in similar contexts, but prolong suggests chiefly increase in duration especially beyond usual limits.

prolonged illness

How do protract and prolong relate to one another, in the sense of extend?

Protract adds to prolong implications of needlessness, vexation, or indefiniteness.

protracted litigation

Thesaurus Entries Near extend

extemporizing

extend

extended

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Cite this Entry

“Extend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extend. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

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More from Merriam-Webster on extend

Nglish: Translation of extend for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of extend for Arabic Speakers

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