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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lengthening
New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2025
Jenny McCoy, SELF, 24 Oct. 2025
Officials warn that attacks may also occur on remote islands, lengthening the response time of authorities in the event of an emergency.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Each year, the mining site crept farther south as deposits dwindled, lengthening her father’s commute.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
If the commitment is too large, the two governments can look for workarounds, such as lengthening the period of performance, contributing to the investment fund project by project, or credit recent Korean investments.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
Keep reading for all my travel-friendly petite fashion finds, including comfortable, leg-lengthening jeans and cozy sweatpants, starting at $20.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025
The decorative buttons on the cuff add a polished touch, while the back slit on the pencil silhouette creates a flattering, leg-lengthening effect.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
Rest here for 3 to 5 minutes, lengthening your exhalations.
—Kate Pitts, Outside, 30 Sep. 2025
And lengthening it is a cinch—just hook it up to the faucet; the water pressure flowing into the hose will enlarge it for you.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
That’s because plyometrics involve quick movements and concentric (shortening) and eccentric (lengthening) muscle contractions.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 24 Oct. 2025
Officials warn that attacks may also occur on remote islands, lengthening the response time of authorities in the event of an emergency.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Each year, the mining site crept farther south as deposits dwindled, lengthening her father’s commute.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
If the commitment is too large, the two governments can look for workarounds, such as lengthening the period of performance, contributing to the investment fund project by project, or credit recent Korean investments.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
Keep reading for all my travel-friendly petite fashion finds, including comfortable, leg-lengthening jeans and cozy sweatpants, starting at $20.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025
The decorative buttons on the cuff add a polished touch, while the back slit on the pencil silhouette creates a flattering, leg-lengthening effect.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
Rest here for 3 to 5 minutes, lengthening your exhalations.
—Kate Pitts, Outside, 30 Sep. 2025
And lengthening it is a cinch—just hook it up to the faucet; the water pressure flowing into the hose will enlarge it for you.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lengthening
Noun
-
The contract extension follows a period when Nexstar was making national news during the suspension of ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The academic dean approved multiple extensions so Rochelle could turn in coursework late without penalty.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
By the end of the game, hundreds of shirtless brethren had joined in on the revelry, stretching across four sections and making headlines.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
At the absolute minimum, Prince Andrew and others in Epstein’s orbit showed a pathological incuriosity about the young girls who surrounded him—and that is stretching good faith to its very limit.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
China’s Seafaring History (Smithsonian Magazine) by Sean Kingsley China has a history of maritime trade extending to West Africa, the Mediterranean, and much of Asia that goes back to the first millennium.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
29 Oct. 2025
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Kansas City Chiefs rookie left tackle Josh Simmons missed his third straight game Monday night against the Washington Commanders, extending an absence from the team that began in mid-October.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The organization’s Green Heart Project, which studies the impact of better air quality on heart disease through urban greening, has found that increasing the number of trees and shrubs in an area can create lower levels of a blood marker associated with inflammation.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Coffee prices have been increasing sharply since the start of this year.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Solutions like breathable film packaging and smart logistics play a crucial role in reducing waste and prolonging shelf life.—
William Jones,
Freep.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Democrats criticized House Republicans for remaining away from Washington, arguing that their absence is prolonging the crisis and deepening hardship for workers and families nationwide.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The curved leg and tapered ankle create a subtle elongating effect, giving the illusion of longer legs while still feeling easy and comfortable to move in.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Genshuo Slingback Chunky Heels As evidenced by Kidman, a pair of pointed-toe heels are the ultimate tool for elongating your legs while wearing airy jeans.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lengthening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lengthening. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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