prolong
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to lengthen out in time; extend the duration of; cause to continue longer.
to prolong one's stay abroad.
- Antonyms:
- abbreviate
-
to make longer in spatial extent.
to prolong a line.
verb
Synonym Usage
See lengthen.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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prolongablenessnoun
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prolongationnoun
-
prolongernoun
-
prolongmentnoun
-
prolongableadjective
-
unprolongableadjective
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prolongablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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prolongsimple
-
prolongssimple
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have prolongedperfect
-
has prolongedperfect
-
am prolongingprogressive
-
are prolongingprogressive
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is prolongingprogressive
-
have been prolongingperfect progressive
-
has been prolongingperfect progressive
Past
-
prolongedsimple
-
had prolongedperfect
-
was prolongingprogressive
-
were prolongingprogressive
-
had been prolongingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of prolong
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English prolongen, from Late Latin prōlongāre “to lengthen,” equivalent to prō- “forward, forth” + long(us) “long” + -ā- theme vowel + -re infinitive ending; see pro- 1, long 1
Explanation
I don't want to prolong this definition, so I'll keep it short. To prolong is to make something last longer or to stretch it out in time. You see the word long in prolong and it's no trick. If you prolong an argument with a sibling, you make it longer than it naturally would be. Prolong always has to do with time. When you stretch your neck or a piece of cloth to make it appear longer, you are elongating, not prolonging, it.
Vocabulary lists containing prolong
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
El Niño is expected to prolong an existing unrelated marine heat wave that would otherwise typically start fading between October and December, scientists say.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
The US sources confirmed reporting by Axios that the two sides had agreed on a memorandum of understanding to prolong the ceasefire and launch negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme.
From Barron's ● May 28, 2026
The team also tested whether they could prolong these signals.
From Science Daily ● May 25, 2026
“There is the potential for Iran to prolong disruption for revenue and leverage, and we do not anticipate the Trump-Xi summit to alter this trajectory,” says the firm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026
She wanted to prolong this moment, sitting amid the scent of books, discovering Obinze again.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Polling by Abacus Data shows nearly 70% of Canadians want Ottawa to hold firm in negotiations, even if it prolongs economic pain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
It prolongs an earlier easing of sanctions that expired on April 11.
From Barron's ● Apr. 22, 2026
“Dying intestate in California often prolongs the probate process, increasing legal and court fees,” the law firm says.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 6, 2025
"These important findings identify a treatment that prolongs survival in men with aggressive prostate cancer," said Hyung Kim, MD, a urologic oncologist and chair of the Department of Urology at Cedars-Sinai.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2025
This little bit of food he’s able to bring to her prolongs her life just a little more, keeping her with us just a little longer.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
Kaneva and her team with threats now for to two major waterways in the Gulf, markets are clearly viewing a prolonged stalemate as unlikely.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
Faced with prolonged tariff uncertainty, Academy Sports & Outdoors chose to cash in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Gironde is one of several French departments ravaged by wildfires in recent days, due to a series of unusual and prolonged heatwaves.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Such factors, said Ali Vaez, the Iran project director for the International Crisis Group, lead to a formula for prolonged conflict.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
He was like some shaman fasting during a particularly arduous and prolonged mystical rite.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
He wants “to build a new healthcare system from the ground up, solely optimizing for prevention of disease and prolonging healthy life using every tool, technology, piece of scientific and medical information available to us.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Burns specialists said the injuries caused by heated squishy toys can be particularly severe because the gel inside can remain extremely hot and get stuck to the skin, prolonging the burn.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
Cloudflare said it chose to lay off so many people at once to avoid “dragging” its reorganization across multiple quarters, which would slow it down while prolonging uncertainty for workers.
From MarketWatch ● May 7, 2026
A 15-percent US tariff and higher duties for other key markets such as India risk prolonging weak prices and further squeezing margins, the ministry said, calling it a "source of concern".
From Barron's ● Jan. 21, 2026
He was charged with prolonging the war by his activity as a Volkssturm organizer.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
