protract

American  

[proh-trakt, pruh-] / proʊˈtrækt, prə- /

verb (used with object)

1. to draw out or lengthen, especially in time; extend the duration of; prolong.

   Synonyms:

   continue

   Antonyms:

   curtail

2. Anatomy. to extend or protrude.

3. (in surveying, mathematics, etc.) to plot and draw (lines) with a scale and a protractor.

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protract British  

/ prəˈtrækt /

verb

1. to lengthen or extend (a speech, etc); prolong in time

2. (of a muscle) to draw, thrust, or extend (a part, etc) forwards

3. to plot or draw using a protractor and scale

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Related Words

See lengthen.

Other Word Forms

• overprotract verb (used with object)
• protractedly adverb
• protractedness noun
• protractible adjective
• protractive adjective
• unprotracted adjective
• unprotractive adjective

Etymology

Origin of protract

First recorded in 1540–50, protract is from the Latin word prōtractus (past participle of prōtrahere “to draw forth, prolong”). See pro- ¹, tract ¹

Example Sentences

Silverblatt died Saturday at home after a protracted illness, a close friend confirmed.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2022, the U.S. finished the competition in second place and only climbed atop the podium two years later after a protracted legal battle.

From The Wall Street Journal

The USA won gold after the Russian team was demoted in Beijing in a protracted saga that delayed the medal ceremony by over two years.

From BBC

A record fiscal quarter for Walt Disney Co.’s theme parks division was dampened slightly by a streaming aquisition and a protracted fight with YouTube, the Burbank media and entertainment giant reported Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

A protracted debt crisis in China's vast real-estate sector has discouraged would-be homebuyers from investing in property -- long a key store of wealth.

From Barron's

Related Words

• prolong
• put off