lengthen

[ lengk-thuhn, leng-, len- ]

verb (used with object)

1. to make longer; make greater in length.

   Synonyms: elongate

   Antonyms: shorten

verb (used without object)

1. to become greater in length; grow long or longer.

lengthen

/ ˈlɛŋkθən; ˈlɛŋθən /

verb

1. to make or become longer

Derived Forms

• ˈlengthener, noun

Other Words From

• lengthen·er noun
• outlengthen verb (used with object)
• un·lengthened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lengthen¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; length + -en ¹

Synonym Study

Lengthen, extend, stretch, prolong, protract agree in the idea of making longer. To lengthen is to make longer, either in a material or an immaterial sense: to lengthen a dress. To extend is to lengthen beyond some original point or so as to reach a certain point: to extend a railway line by a hundred miles. To stretch is primarily to lengthen by drawing or tension: to stretch a rubber band. Both prolong and protract mean especially to lengthen in time, and therefore apply to intangibles. To prolong is to continue beyond the desired, estimated, or allotted time: to prolong an interview. To protract is to draw out to undue length or to be slow in coming to a conclusion: to protract a discussion.

Example Sentences

Telomeres are supposed to shorten with age, so lengthening makes little sense, and the Twins Study didn’t provide enough data to prompt any real conclusions as to why it happened and what the effects were.

From MIT Technology Review

That could help lengthen the lives of children with progeria even further.

From Science News

The pandemic shut some supply hubs, slowed supply chains and lengthened delivery times.

From TechCrunch

It’s ironic in part because today’s technology-driven world has lengthened work hours for most people.

From Ozy

Keep in mind that adding veggies or other things to the fish will lengthen the cooking time.

From Outside Online

Of course, there's the question of whether we could lengthen maturities as much as we'd like.

From The Daily Beast

That life-giving source is the enzyme telomerase, which can actually lengthen telomeres.

From The Daily Beast

Here are 10 ways you can preserve or lengthen your telomeres.

From The Daily Beast

Old knights were praying Charlemagne's prayer at Roncesvalles—that the day might lengthen while they hunted the Moslem.

From Project Gutenberg

The effect of the alteration has been to lengthen the keel, and perhaps to round up the forefoot a little.

From Project Gutenberg

The animal can not only move and bend it, but he can shorten, lengthen, and turn it all ways.

From Project Gutenberg

There was at the moment a lull in the storm; for a time it seemed as if it would lengthen into a prolonged calm.

From Project Gutenberg

The campaign promised to lengthen into a month, perhaps longer.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• augment
• elongate
• expand
• prolong