Synonyms of lengthening

lengthening 1 of 2

noun

as in extension

the act of making longer

a lengthening of the school year is favored by many of the parents in the school district

Synonyms & Similar Words

• extension
• stretching
• prolongation
• elongation
• prolonging
• drawing out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shortening
• curtailment
• abbreviation
• cutback
• abridgment

lengthening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of lengthen

as in stretching

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

• stretching
• extending
• increasing
• prolonging
• elongating
• protracting
• expanding
• dragging (out)
• drawing out
• enlarging
• outstretching
• amplifying
• thinning
• attenuating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shortening
• cutting
• reducing
• decreasing
• curtailing
• diminishing
• cutting back
• lessening
• abridging
• abbreviating
• thickening

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lengthening

Noun

The lengthening of the 18-hole course could exclude even more golfers. — New York Times, 26 June 2026

The solstice signifies the start of winter and also heralds the incremental lengthening of days, symbolizing hope and renewal in many cultures. — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 19 Dec. 2025

Instead, gently encourage the lengthening of your muscles. — Gerard Hartmann, Outside, 3 Nov. 2025

The researchers also searched for molecular signs of a process called alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), a telomere-extending mechanism that doesn’t rely on the usual enzyme, telomerase. — New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2025

Verb

Just minutes into public testimony, the livestream crashed, lengthening the meeting by about an hour until it was restored. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026

So far, fall 2026 has been filled with sleek, low-profile loafers, leg-lengthening boots, and fresh takes on classic ballet flats, to name a few. — Melony Forcier, InStyle, 4 Nov. 2026

This came soon after Christie Brinkley styled leg-lengthening bootcut jeans for the red carpet, which convinced me to swap my baggy pairs for sleek lookalikes. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2026

The shoes feature a pointy-toe silhouette that is elevated by a leg-lengthening 105mm stiletto heel. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026

Its name comes from the super-high rise, which sits close to the rib cage and creates a leg-lengthening effect. — Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026

Longini explained that climate change is increasing mosquito populations and lengthening their active seasons, contributing to dengue’s spread globally. — Alex Deluca, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

In both countries, falling fertility rates and lengthening lifespans keep worsening the fiscal picture. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026

Cryptographers responded by lengthening the keys, and 2,048 bits is now considered the minimum. — Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026