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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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
The courts also need lengthening because players are hitting the ball harder. — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 31 July 2026 The sandals were set on a leg-lengthening, covered stiletto heel measuring four inches. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 28 July 2026 Thanks to their leg-lengthening, outfit-elevating magic, flare jeans are a must-have for any wardrobe. — Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 28 July 2026 The star wore Agolde’s Arc Jeans, which feature a leg-lengthening wide-leg silhouette that Jennifer Lawrence, Joanna Gaines, and Swift rely on, too — incidentally, the latter also happens to be a wearer of the brand! — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 24 July 2026 The ultimate test for whether Dryad’s system or Seneca’s drones can nip fires in the bud will come if fire agencies deploy them during the lengthening wildfire season. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 July 2026 Its sleek, leg-lengthening silhouette provides a clean, polished look for professional settings while still being versatile enough for casual wear. — Alexandra Pereira, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026 During male puberty, rising testosterone drives the cartilage to grow forward and meet at a sharper angle, while simultaneously lengthening the vocal folds and vocal tract housed just behind it. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 These large-range movements keep your body moving through the stretch, shortening and lengthening your muscles. — Hannah Harper, Health, 1 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lengthening
  1. extension
  2. stretching
  3. extending
  4. increasing
  5. prolonging
  6. elongating
Noun
  • It was set to expire this summer prior to an extension that gives both sides an extra year to reach a new deal.
    — DJ Simmons July 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026
  • Residents organize a petition and pack city meetings, prompting a 10-month extension of a temporary ban as officials weigh permanently blocking new drive-thrus in the Westside community.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of extension
Verb
  • The attacks targeted Kyiv and nine other regions, the president said, stretching from Lviv in the country's west and its border with Poland to Sumy and Kharkiv in the northeast of the country, close to the border with Russia.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 30 July 2026
  • The impending impact, scientists say, offers a chance to analyze the crater and plume of dust stretching several miles above the surface.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of stretching
Verb
  • Across the country, rooftop bars are extending their hours, restaurants are debuting fresh menu offerings and final calls at happy hours become the soundtrack for the night, marking the final weeks of summer.
    — Martie Bowser, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Angel Reese and Naz Hillmon combined for 39 points, and Atlanta pulled away late to beat the Seattle Storm 98-89 at Gateway Center Arena, extending the Dream's winning streak to five games.
    — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of extending
Verb
  • Instead, pick three to five movements that match your fitness level and focus on performing each with good form before increasing the difficulty.
    — RikkiLynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 29 July 2026
  • Across much of the world, increasing longevity combined with decades of declining birth rates is fundamentally changing the composition of the labor force.
    — Sheila Callaham, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of increasing
Verb
  • Hinch directed questions about the timing of this move to the front office, but the Tigers clearly did not view any PPI possibilities as worth the cost of prolonging Clark’s ascension to the majors.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Saudi Arabia's leaders are trying to avoid further regional escalation that would risk miscalculation or prolonging of the war.
    — Margaret Brennan, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Definition of prolonging
Verb
  • Her hands roughly reshape their flesh, elongating and compacting it.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 July 2026
  • From leg-elongating cuts to striking floral styles, the singer and TV host is constantly wearing eye-catching denim on The Kelly Clarkson Show (and influencing my closet all the while).
    — Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Definition of elongating

Browse Nearby Words

lengthened
lengthening
lengthens
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Cite this Entry

“Lengthening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lengthening. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of lengthening for Spanish Speakers

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