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.
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These developments have unjustifiably prolonged this investigation and raise questions about the actual purpose of the proceeding.—ArsTechnica, 28 Mar. 2025 Rabinowitz and other experts say both Republicans and Democrats are undermining Housing First by criminalizing homelessness and conducting encampment sweeps that hinder the ability of front-line workers to get people into housing and services, prolonging their homelessness.—Angela Hart, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2025 In fact, James has even be able to slowly transition his game into being more perimeter-based, as to offset any loss in athletic prowess, further prolonging his effectiveness.—Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025 The board was scheduled to vote on it Thursday, but that was postponed this week, prolonging the state of limbo.—Jack Prator, Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prolong
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French prolonguer, from Late Latin prolongare, from Latin pro- forward + longus long
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