lengthening 1 of 2

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

lengthening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of lengthen

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
So Chimedza chose not to move forward with lengthening his limbs, though confidence in that choice did not arrive immediately. Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 The new style is part of the Gucci Primavera collection, and the Donna features a striking, pronounced outline and clean lines all around, lengthening the leg. Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026 The study, however, didn’t attribute the lengthening delays to flaws in the single-payer system, but rather to the increasing complexity of cancer care and changes in hospital practices. Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 These Spanx Micro Flare Pants have a subtle bootcut design for an ultra-flattering, leg-lengthening look. Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2026 Telescopes show Venus's crescent lengthening and thinning throughout the month, but observers at mid-northern latitudes will find Venus's image to be blurred by turbulence low in the sky. Joe Rao, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Stein attributed the drop to a lengthening backlog for accounts receivable as Nvidia has loosened payment terms for its many backstopping deals. Tobias Burns, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 And among those areas that could face a lengthening drought is the Pacific Northwest because of the way the jet stream moves during El Nino. Dana Taylor, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 The Philadelphia Phillies entered the trade deadline widely expected to pursue a significant upgrade, with much of the speculation centered on adding a right-handed outfielder capable of lengthening the lineup beyond the infield staples. Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lengthening
Noun
  • The victory came after Northwestern announced a three-year contract extension through 2031 for fourth-year coach Braun on Thursday.
    Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Yes, last season was a concern with Nikola Jovic, but his extension does not kick in until this season.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Beth Israel was a flagship of American Judaism, its origins stretching back to 1844, when Texas was still an independent republic.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Standard assays for measuring plastic breakdown are exceptionally slow because solid PET plastic resists dissolution, stretching testing timelines across several days.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Skims has hired Tapestry veteran Natalie Buchberger as director of franchise for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, extending a recent run of leadership appointments as the shapewear and apparel company builds its international business.
    Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Lamont’s budget director, Office of Policy and Management Secretary Josh Wojcik, wrote in an email to state agency heads that extending current benefits at least for one more year also would help ensure departments are properly staffed.
    Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Widening gap The gap between hyperscaler CDS and bank CDS has widened to around 60 basis points from roughly 0 since October of 2025, implying that hyperscaler credit risk is increasing on its own terms, Slok's research shows.
    Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Economic growth has also been on solid footing, though an increasing share of it has been driven by red-hot spending on AI — some of which is now being propelled by credit.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • More than 5,000 migrants have remained in Ceuta, prolonging a humanitarian crisis that has become a political liability for Sánchez in Spain and beyond.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • But El Niño amplifies the flames by prolonging dry conditions, lowering water levels in the peatland and turning plants into tinder.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • With plum liner elongating her eyes and a matte rose-taupe hue dressing her lips, the glam also relied on clean, glowy skin.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The other three Dazzle Dry steps—a cleansing alcohol primer, a gripping base coat, and a wear-elongating top coat—are integral to nails that won’t chip for weeks.
    Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 7 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lengthening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lengthening. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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