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

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

The Lorenzo can be worn two ways, with or without a fine leather strap threaded through the gold Eye of the Needle, which can be buckled across the foot to create a leg-lengthening effect. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

But for more formal occasions—and to achieve Middleton’s leg-lengthening spin on the look—I’m eyeing these heeled styles. — Abby Moore, InStyle, 8 Oct. 2026

Like Middleton’s pair, these loafers have a sleek silhouette with tapered toe boxes that create a leg-lengthening effect. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2026

Both could go a long way in lengthening the Yankees’ postseason lineup; the righty-swinging Lombard, in particular, provides some needed balance. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

These movements take joints through active ranges of motion, lengthening and engaging muscles to support and control movement. — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026