elongate

American  

[ih-lawng-geyt, ih-long-, ee-lawng-geyt, ee-long-] / ɪˈlɔŋ geɪt, ɪˈlɒŋ-, ˈi lɔŋˌgeɪt, ˈi lɒŋ- /

verb (used with object)

elongated, elongating

1. to draw out to greater length; lengthen; extend.

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verb (used without object)

elongated, elongating

1. to increase in length.

adjective

1. extended; lengthened.

2. long and thin.

elongate British  

/ ˈiːlɒŋɡeɪt /

verb

1. to make or become longer; stretch

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adjective

1. long and narrow; slender

   elongate leaves

2. lengthened or tapered

Other Word Forms

• elongative adjective
• subelongate adjective
• subelongated adjective
• unelongated adjective

Etymology

Origin of elongate

1530–40; < Late Latin ēlongātus lengthened out, past participle of ēlongāre to make longer, make distant, remove, equivalent to Latin ē- e- ¹ + -longāre, derivative of longus long ¹, longē far off

Example Sentences

Language’s capacity to elongate the self in time burdened us with anxiety and regret.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

“I wish that these big organizations were looking into these things differently, because you could elongate careers and elongate lives,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2025

The tweak helped a sharper Swiatek elongate the rallies and put more pressure on Sabalenka's serve, with the Pole winning the next three games to move 5-4 ahead.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2025

But shape-shifting robots, which are controlled by magnetic fields, can dynamically squish, bend, or elongate their entire bodies.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2024

They seemed able to elongate as much as they wanted.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• draw out
• lengthen