as in extended
to make longer
I had to lengthen the handle of the paint roller in order to reach the top of the wall
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Recent Examples of lengthened
After success at a shorter distance, it was lengthened twice before getting to the full length.
—
Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Commutes had lengthened due to urban sprawl and more traffic congestion.
—Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
That changed in the early 1970s, when Texans approved a constitutional amendment that lengthened the governor’s term from two years to four years, taking effect for the 1974 election cycle (governors elected in 1974 and after would serve four-year terms).
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
Holding periods across buyout funds have lengthened, and many assets remain fundamentally strong but difficult to exit at acceptable valuations.
—Sunaina Sinha Haldea, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2026
While that was to be only three weeks, Mohammadi’s time out of prison lengthened, possibly as activists and Western powers pushed Iran to keep her free.
—CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Her medical furlough was initially to be for three weeks, but her time out of prison lengthened, possibly on account of activists and Western powers pushing Iran to keep her free.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
The best candidates are those whose philtrums are congenitally long or have lengthened with age.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
This cycle of emotional darkness let up by spring, as the days lengthened.
—Elizabeth Kelsey, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Commutes had lengthened due to urban sprawl and more traffic congestion.
—Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
That changed in the early 1970s, when Texans approved a constitutional amendment that lengthened the governor’s term from two years to four years, taking effect for the 1974 election cycle (governors elected in 1974 and after would serve four-year terms).
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
Holding periods across buyout funds have lengthened, and many assets remain fundamentally strong but difficult to exit at acceptable valuations.
—Sunaina Sinha Haldea, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2026
While that was to be only three weeks, Mohammadi’s time out of prison lengthened, possibly as activists and Western powers pushed Iran to keep her free.
—CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Her medical furlough was initially to be for three weeks, but her time out of prison lengthened, possibly on account of activists and Western powers pushing Iran to keep her free.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
The best candidates are those whose philtrums are congenitally long or have lengthened with age.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
This cycle of emotional darkness let up by spring, as the days lengthened.
—Elizabeth Kelsey, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lengthened
Verb
-
His concern extended beyond the precise question of the neutrality proclamation; Madison offered a more general admonition against bestowing war powers on a single, potentially flawed individual.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
-
This academic year, the district extended the school day for elementary students by 20 minutes.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lead stretched to 12 early in the third quarter, but slowly and painfully for Parker, the hosts, with Archer attacking the glass, kept pecking away.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, working- and middle-class families are stretched thin.—
Tiffany Caban,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Career Connections program allowing students to learn career skills and earn credentials, Skipper highlighted, started off with around 1,000 students four years ago and has now increased to over 4,000 students.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Before that, the rate had increased 56% over two years.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Western powers feared that prolonged Iranian instability could open the door to Soviet influence in the oil-rich country – a central Cold War concern.—
Gregory F. Treverton,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Each aquifer responds uniquely to pumping and prolonged dry periods.—
Claire Marks,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lengthened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lengthened. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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