extend

[ ik-stend ]
See synonyms for: extendextendedextendingextends on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to stretch out; draw out to the full length: He extended the measuring tape as far as it would go.

  2. to stretch, draw, or arrange in a given direction, or so as to reach a particular point, as a cord, wall, or line of troops.

  1. to stretch forth or hold out, as the arm or hand: to extend one's hand in greeting.

  2. to place at full length, especially horizontally, as the body or limbs.

  3. to increase the length or duration of; lengthen; prolong: to extend a visit.

  4. to stretch out in various or all directions; expand; spread out in area: A huge tent was extended over the field.

  5. to enlarge the scope of, or make more comprehensive, as operations, influence, or meaning: The European powers extended their authority in Asia.

  6. to provide as an offer or grant; offer; grant; give: to extend aid to needy scholars.

  7. Finance. to postpone (the payment of a debt) beyond the time originally agreed upon.

  8. to increase the bulk or volume of, especially by adding an inexpensive or plentiful substance.

  9. Bookkeeping. to transfer (figures) from one column to another.

  10. Law.

    • British. to assess or value.

    • to make a seizure or levy upon, as land, by a writ of extent.

  11. Manège. to bring (a horse) into an extended attitude.

  12. to exert (oneself) to an unusual degree.

  13. Archaic. to exaggerate.

  14. Obsolete. to take by seizure.

verb (used without object)
  1. to be or become extended; stretch out in length, duration, or in various or all directions.

  2. to reach, as to a particular point.

  1. to increase in length, area, scope, etc.

  2. Manège. (of a horse) to come into an extended attitude.

Origin of extend

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English extenden, from Latin extendere “to stretch out.” See ex-1, tend1

synonym study For extend

5. See lengthen.

Other words for extend

Opposites for extend

Other words from extend

  • ex·tend·i·ble, ex·tend·a·ble, adjective
  • ex·tend·i·bil·i·ty, ex·tend·a·bil·i·ty, noun
  • non·ex·tend·i·ble, adjective
  • non·ex·tend·i·ble·ness, noun
  • pre·ex·tend, verb
  • su·per·ex·tend, verb
  • un·ex·tend·a·ble, adjective
  • un·ex·tend·i·ble, adjective

Words Nearby extend

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use extend in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for extend

extend

/ (ɪkˈstɛnd) /


verb
  1. to draw out or be drawn out; stretch

  2. to last for a certain time: his schooling extended for three years

  1. (intr) to reach a certain point in time or distance: the land extends five miles

  2. (intr) to exist or occur: the trees extended throughout the area

  3. (tr) to increase (a building, etc) in size or area; add to or enlarge

  4. (tr) to broaden the meaning or scope of: the law was extended

  5. (tr) to put forth, present, or offer: to extend greetings

  6. to stretch forth (an arm, etc)

  7. (tr) to lay out (a body) at full length

  8. (tr) to strain or exert (a person or animal) to the maximum

  9. (tr) to prolong (the time originally set) for payment of (a debt or loan), completion of (a task), etc

  10. (tr) accounting

    • to carry forward

    • to calculate the amount of (a total, balance, etc)

  11. (tr) law (formerly in England) to value or assess (land)

Origin of extend

1
C14: from Latin extendere to stretch out, from tendere to stretch

Derived forms of extend

  • extendible or extendable, adjective
  • extendibility or extendability, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012