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
Milk contains protein and carbohydrates, which slow digestion, prolonging the presence of water in the body. — Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026 Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also said foreign powers are central to prolonging the war. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2026 Washing your robe is important from both a hygiene standpoint, as well as for prolonging its lifespan. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026 As American leaders increasingly seek short, decisive military operations, the United States may increasingly confront adversaries that see advantages in prolonging conflicts. — Nadia Schadlow, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026 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, 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 Thirty-six of Brown’s 101 pitches were sinkers, prolonging a seismic shift for a pitcher known for a menacing four-seam fastball. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Adding a food-grade absorbent pad such as a paper towel to the bottom of the container can help wick away any excess moisture, prolonging the life of the blossoms. — Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prolonging
Noun
  • Some of those projects include new sidewalk and crosswalk installations, citywide traffic-calming measures and sidewalk extensions.
    — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Over time, large-scale replication and extension studies of the marshmallow test with more diverse socioeconomic and racial samples found more nuanced findings.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • 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
Noun
  • Also, ibogaine’s prolongation of the heart’s QT intervals carries a real risk of fatal arrhythmia.
    — Michelle Lhooq, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The prolongation was 242 days in 2023 and 346 days in 2024, according to the report.
    — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The Abercrombie Kids’ Baby & Toddler Collection adds newborn through 5T sizing after shoppers asked for smaller sizes, extending the brand into another stage of its customers’ lives.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The chain’s restaurants were leased back to it under a 25-year master lease, which included 2% annual escalators, extending until the early 2040s, according to the initial deal terms.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • This is where your warm-up becomes most specific to your needs, and where generic stretching and movement most often fall short.
    — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Options include playing soft music when work ends, taking a mindful shower focused on water and breathing or doing five to 10 minutes of gentle stretching.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The hope is that these discoveries will not be lost with increasing use of AI models in mathematics.
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The rules are aimed at boosting confidence in Saudi ⁠capital markets by increasing transparency and strengthening the IPO framework, the CMA said.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prolonging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prolonging. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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