prolong

American  

[pruh-lawng, -long] / prəˈlɔŋ, -ˈlɒŋ /

verb (used with object)

• prolongs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• prolonged,
  past participle,  past
• prolonging
  present participle

1. to lengthen out in time; extend the duration of; cause to continue longer.

   to prolong one's stay abroad.

   Antonyms:

   abbreviate

2. to make longer in spatial extent.

   to prolong a line.

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prolong British  

/ prəˈlɒŋ /

verb

1. (tr) to lengthen in duration or space; extend

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Synonym Usage

See lengthen.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prolongableness
  noun
• prolongation
  noun
• prolonger
  noun
• prolongment
  noun
• prolongable
  adjective
• unprolongable
  adjective
• prolongably
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• prolonging
  present
• prolonged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• prolong
  simple
• prolongs
  simple
• have prolonged
  perfect
• has prolonged
  perfect
• am prolonging
  progressive
• are prolonging
  progressive
• is prolonging
  progressive
• have been prolonging
  perfect progressive
• has been prolonging
  perfect progressive

Past

• prolonged
  simple
• had prolonged
  perfect
• was prolonging
  progressive
• were prolonging
  progressive
• had been prolonging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will prolong
  simple
• will have prolonged
  perfect
• will be prolonging
  progressive
• will have been prolonging
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prolong prolongs prolonged prolonging

His base case continues to be that the Fed chair’s challenges on inflation and bond yields, the upcoming midterm elections and the end of earnings season catalysts will prolong the near-term choppiness.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026

“Structuring unnatural credits to prolong momentum late in the bull phase is where the worry comes in.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

A permanent position would reassure markets of policy continuity, while a temporary role could prolong uncertainty and leave the burden of maintaining stability to her eventual successor, they said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Hotter nights can prolong the stress that heat places on the human body by depriving people of a chance to recover, increasing the risk of heat-related illness.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

It was never in our interest to prolong the agony of apartheid for any reason.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

But, for people without symptoms or high-risk conditions, the American College of Radiology says there is not enough evidence to recommend it and no documented proof that it prolongs life or is cost-effective.

From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026

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

"We need to make a choice - do we want to have an economic way forward or a way forward that increases and prolongs life?" he told BBC News NI.

From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2024

Her lightness prolongs both our suffering but it is my safety since he has great speed that he has never yet employed.

From "The Old Man and The Sea" by Ernest Hemingway

Worries over prolonged disruptions to Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline have also eased.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

My children’s faces, whenever they asked if the sailors were OK, made me wonder how reassured those stories really made them feel during prolonged separations.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

At the time, a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said concerns about Johal's "prolonged detention" were raised with the Indian government at every appropriate opportunity.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

The experiment did not establish lasting memory benefits, slower aging, or the safety of prolonged use in older adults.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026

Such a fabric cannot be prolonged and should not be.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

Instead, he had to halt his throwing progression multiple times for flare-ups, prolonging his time on the IL.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Many operators now avoid the passage and send ships instead around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope, vastly prolonging the journey between Asia and Europe and driving up fuel costs and emissions.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

Talks to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz hit an impasse this week, prolonging disruptions to shipping through one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Indeed, Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange faced heavy criticism from fans for prolonging Frank's tenure for as long as they did.

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

Even Bisguier, not prolonging any resentment, proclaimed Bobby Fischer as the strongest fourteen-year-old chess player who had ever lived.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• continue
• delay
• drag out
• lengthen
• perpetuate
• protract
• stall