lengthen
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
lengthensimple
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lengthenssimple
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have lengthenedperfect
-
has lengthenedperfect
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am lengtheningprogressive
-
are lengtheningprogressive
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is lengtheningprogressive
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have been lengtheningperfect progressive
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has been lengtheningperfect progressive
Past
-
lengthenedsimple
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had lengthenedperfect
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was lengtheningprogressive
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were lengtheningprogressive
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had been lengtheningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of lengthen
Explanation
To lengthen is to make something longer, either physically or in time. During the spring and early summer, the days lengthen, as sundown comes later and later. Mascara lengthens your eyelashes, and letting out your hem lengthens your jeans. As time goes by, your years of experience lengthen, and if you don't cut your hair or trim your beard, those lengthen as well. Lengthen dates from the 14th century — earlier, the verb was length, from a Germanic root that's also the basis of "long."
Vocabulary lists containing lengthen
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:
Eccentric exercise focuses on the phase when muscles lengthen rather than shorten.
From Science Daily ● May 1, 2026
Airport security lines could lengthen as over 11% of TSA officers previously called out when unpaid, with some airports reaching 50%.
From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026
The golf industry’s response has been to lengthen courses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
The hole had been a source of controversy all week following the decision to lengthen it from 236 to 273 yards.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2026
The sun walks mindlessly overhead, the shadows lengthen and shorten as if by plan.
From "Grendel" by John Gardner
“As the delay lengthens, financing costs, integration risk, transaction expenses and lost strategic flexibility become increasingly tangible,” said Barak Orbach, a law and business professor at the University of Arizona.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Catalysts for a recovery that lengthens into the back half of the year, however, will be complicated by the ongoing rise in oil and other energy prices, and higher inflation coupled with slower-than-expected economic growth.
From Barron's ● Apr. 1, 2026
However, refrigeration does have a big advantage over the counter: It lengthens the egg’s shelf life.
From Slate ● Apr. 19, 2025
They won't want to let their local rivals get to 400 though, on a pitch likely to turn as the game lengthens.
From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2024
They run together, but at the end, the other girl finishes more strongly Her stride lengthens, and a man keeps yelling, “Go, Annie! Go, Annie! Dig ’em in, love!
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
AI has the ability to accelerate analysis and speed up work — but paradoxically, it’s lengthened the process of finding the right person for an open role in many cases.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
As necks lengthened over evolutionary time, the nerve was stretched rather than rerouted.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
But Schulte told the BBC's World at One programme that individual governments had to make the decision to suspend the system, not airports themselves, adding that queues lengthened while such decisions were being made.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
Input price and selling price increases remained elevated, delivery times lengthened, and supply availability worsened in June.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
The shadows lengthened, and Svadilfari did not return.
From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman
Longevity is creating new investment opportunities while also lengthening the planning horizon for individuals and families.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
“Essentially, you’re just lengthening the ramp, which with international films really helps put these movies on the radar,” says a veteran awards consultant, who, because of potential client conflicts, asked to speak anonymously.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
According to the study, muscles can produce greater force during these lengthening movements while using less energy than they would during lifting, pulling, or climbing actions.
From Science Daily ● May 1, 2026
UFO contends that there has not been enough progress made on issues such as "avoiding overwork" and lengthening redundancy notice periods.
From Barron's ● Apr. 13, 2026
It was a perfect little model of a lamp-post, about three feet high but lengthening, and thickening in proportion, as they watched it; in fact growing just as the trees had grown.
From "The Magician's Nephew" by C. S. Lewis
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.
