extend and lengthen imply a drawing out in space or time but extend may also imply increase in width, scope, area, or range.
extend a vacation
extend welfare services
lengthen a skirt
lengthen the workweek
prolong suggests chiefly increase in duration especially beyond usual limits.
prolonged illness
protract adds to prolong implications of needlessness, vexation, or indefiniteness.
protracted litigation
Examples of prolong in a Sentence
Additives are used to prolong the shelf life of packaged food.
High interest rates were prolonging the recession.
Recent Examples on the WebScreenshot: YouTube The use of Hall effect sticks and triggers should help prolong the life of the controller, but there doesn’t appear to be switches on the back of the RG P01 limiting the travel of its triggers to improve reaction times for FPS games.—Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2024 Longer battery life means there’s less need to recharge so often which helps prolong the service life of the headphones.—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 While keeping the pumpkin moist inside, bleach’s anti-microbial properties prevent mold growth and prolong the life of your pumpkin.—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Oct. 2024 Sure, rappers have been starting, ending and prolonging beefs on remixes for decades, but this may be the first time two female artists have aired out and fixed their differences in this way — and then took it to the stage of Madison Square Garden last month for a triumphant conclusion.—Jem Aswad, Variety, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prolong
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prolong.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French prolonguer, from Late Latin prolongare, from Latin pro- forward + longus long
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