as in to extend
to make longer I had to lengthen the handle of the paint roller in order to reach the top of the wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb lengthen contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of lengthen are extend, 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 might prolong be a better fit than lengthen?

While the synonyms prolong and lengthen are close in meaning, prolong suggests chiefly increase in duration especially beyond usual limits.

prolonged illness

How are the words protract and prolong related as synonyms of lengthen?

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

protracted litigation

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lengthen Bracamontes said her daughter still can't feel or move her right foot and needs three more operations: one to relieve nerve pain, and two to try to restore mobility in her foot by lengthening her Achilles tendon and transferring a tendon in her left leg into her right. Jordan Rau, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2025 Moreover, working the long head emphasizes the eccentric portion of a move—the part when the muscle is lengthening under load—which is a more effective way to improve strength, power, and speed performance compared to traditional resistance training, according to research. Jenny McCoy, SELF, 9 Apr. 2025 Chronic pessimism damages your attitude and your telomeres—the protective tips at the end of chromosomes, shortened by negative thoughts and lengthened by positive thoughts. Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 Driving the news: The freeze-free growing season lengthened between 1970 and 2024 in nearly 90% of the 198 cities analyzed by Climate Central, a research and communications group. Esteban L. Hernandez, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lengthen
Verb
  • Mummy Pig talks pregnancy, big feelings Kelce, also pregnant with her fourth daughter at the time, extended her congratulations and asked how Mummy Pig's other children, Peppa and George, were handling the news.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • That incentive, which expires this year, could be extended and raised from its current limit of $15 million per production.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Fed chief said Wednesday the central bank can be patient while assessing data on inflation and employment, which are its dual mandates, while anxious consumers and businesses eye potentially prolonged economic instability.
    Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Several of Ukraine's allies had said in individual statements that the strikes showed Russia was prolonging the war.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Incidents are increasing now because people are hungry and people are trying to survive, and that is going to also have an effect on society.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
  • The reception for each volume of Love, Death & Robots has steadily increased since volume one dropped in March 2019, with the volume three boasting a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Sirens, Netflix’s big budget drama release this month, drops on May 22.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • Bade Boutique Hotel Bade Boutique Hotel is one of the best options for budget travelers looking to stretch their dollar as far as possible.
    Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • There is a large homeless camp that stretches east along East 12th Street from 16th Avenue to past 18th Avenue in the area.
    Harry Harris, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Emilia played by Kimber provides contrast in a sharp black vest with matching wide-legged pants and heels to elongate her look.
    Aleah Wright, Essence, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Win that one, too, of course, and the No. 1-seed Cleveland Cavaliers and the best record in the NBA Eastern Conference would await to very likely only elongate the end for this Heat season and end it ugly. Do not expect a play-in to the Finals miracle run like Miami pulled off two years ago.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lengthen. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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