protract

verb

pro·​tract prō-ˈtrakt 

prə-

protracted; protracting; protracts

transitive verb

1

: to prolong in time or space : continue

2

: to extend forward or outward compare retract sense 1

3

archaic : delay, defer

protractive

prō-ˈtrak-tiv 

prə-

adjective

Synonyms

• drag (out)
• draw out
• elongate
• extend
• lengthen
• outstretch
• prolong
• stretch

Choose the Right Synonym for protract

extend, lengthen, prolong, protract mean to draw out or add to so as to increase in length.

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 protract in a Sentence

the highway project was protracted by years of litigation

Recent Examples on the Web

The pervasive graying of the population and protracted population decline will hobble economic growth and cripple social welfare systems in rich countries, threatening their very prospects for continued prosperity. —Nicholas Eberstadt, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2024

Wasser has represented a who’s who of divorcing A-listers over the years, including Angelina Jolie in the early years of her bitter, protracted divorce from Brad Pitt. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2024

Those protracted silences lent a satirical bite to America’s juxtaposition of moral blindness and proud ridiculousness—but without overwhelming the delightful silliness on display. —Amanda Wicks, The Atlantic, 6 Oct. 2024

Friction point: The Navy's priority boats are years behind construction schedule, and aging ships and protracted repair windows are compounding the problem. —Colin Demarest, Axios, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin prōtractus, past participle of prōtrahere "to drag forward, draw or pull out, bring into the open, prolong, defer," from prō-, prefix denoting forward movement + trahere "to drag, draw, take along" — more at pro- entry 2, abstract entry 1

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

protract

verb

pro·​tract prō-ˈtrakt 

: prolong

Medical Definition

protract

transitive verb

pro·​tract prō-ˈtrakt 

: to extend forward or outward

the mandible is protracted and retracted in chewing

compare retract