prolonging 1 of 2

as in extension
the act of making longer his habitual prolonging of any task so that it fills up an entire afternoon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

prolonging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of prolong

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 prolonging
Noun
Looking ahead, Trump’s prolonging of Chavismo is a political gamble in Florida – a state where many Latin Republican voters despise the system and any dealing with socialist governments. Paul Webster Hare, The Conversation, 19 Jan. 2026 The prolonging of the war has also ratcheted up Israel’s isolation on the world stage. New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
However, warmer conditions typically mean more precipitation falls as rain rather than snow, prolonging snow deficits. ABC News, 9 July 2026 Further, there is no biological plausibility or clinical evidence supporting a life-prolonging effect of chiropractic care, especially for systemic disease as claimed by some in the field. David S. Shapiro, STAT, 30 June 2026 After refining, gasoline travels through pipelines, ships, trucks and fuel terminals before landing at filling stations, further prolonging higher prices for consumers. Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 And his resignation has paved the way for a seventh official to fill the post in a decade, prolonging the political turbulence that began with the Brexit vote in 2016. Yasmin Vossoughian, NBC news, 22 June 2026 Zelenskyy has said the war could end if Putin agrees to genuine peace talks, while accusing Moscow of prolonging the conflict and using negotiations as cover for continued attacks. Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026 There is potential for a drier, warmer summer across the Northwest, northern Plains, and the Upper Midwest, prolonging ongoing drought in some areas and increasing wildfire risk, according to AccuWeather. Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 15 June 2026 The idea here is to dissuade teams from prolonging their rebuilds. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 2 June 2026 The green beans provide shade, prolonging the spinach growing season by preventing bolting and excess sun exposure. Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prolonging
Noun
  • Pavel Mintyukov signs contract extension with Ducks Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov has agreed to five-year contract extension worth $36 million with the Ducks, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The 49ers have been looking for a trade partner for Aiyuk, who signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the 49ers in August 2024.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • These elegant, loose-fitting pull-on pants sit high on the waist, creating a leg-lengthening effect.
    Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
  • The high-rise pair is fitted through the thighs before widening at the bottom, creating a flattering, leg-lengthening silhouette.
    Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • The prolongation was 242 days in 2023 and 346 days in 2024, according to the report.
    Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • States like Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota are prime viewing locations for a G1 storm, with a G2 potentially extending visibility to states further south, including Oregon and New York.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Despite its streamlined simplicity and modest spec, the Lightcamp is ultimately a more comprehensive conversion than the typical camper kit, extending into permanent base van modification.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 July 2026
Noun
  • Activities such as walking, swimming, cycling, stretching, and yoga are all beneficial.
    Mélanie Defouilloy, Vogue, 6 July 2026
  • The coating also adds a layer of protection to fibers to help prevent fading, stretching, and pilling.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Getty Images Major air-conditioning makers such as Japan’s Daikin are also trimming costs by increasing the use of aluminum.
    Tim Treadgold, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • Thanks to the design, all three elements are evenly separated upon exiting the barrel, improving firing accuracy and substantially increasing the probability of hitting small targets, reported TASS.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prolonging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prolonging. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on prolonging

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!