extend

[ ik-stend ]

/ ɪkˈstɛnd /

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See synonyms for: extend / extended / extending / extends on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to stretch out; draw out to the full length: He extended the measuring tape as far as it would go.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Law.

British. to assess or value.
to make a seizure or levy upon, as land, by a writ of extent.

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

to exert (oneself) to an unusual degree.

Archaic. to exaggerate.

Obsolete. to take by seizure.

verb (used without object)

to be or become extended; stretch out in length, duration, or in various or all directions.

to reach, as to a particular point.

to increase in length, area, scope, etc.

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

OTHER WORDS FOR extend

5 continue.

6 enlarge; widen, dilate.

8 bestow, impart.

See synonyms for extend on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR extend

1 shorten, contract.

See antonyms for extend on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of extend

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 FROM extend

ex·tend·i·ble, ex·tend·a·ble, adjectiveex·tend·i·bil·i·ty, ex·tend·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·ex·tend·i·ble, adjectivenon·ex·tend·i·ble·ness, noun

pre·ex·tend, verbsu·per·ex·tend, verbun·ex·tend·a·ble, adjectiveun·ex·tend·i·ble, adjective

Words nearby extend

extemporaneous, extemporaneously, extemporary, extempore, extemporize, extend, extend credit to, extended, extended care, extended complex plane, extended coverage

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use extend in a sentence

When the Nats extended him for $245 million for seven years, I understood and agreed.
MLB teams can buy hope easier than championships|Thomas M. Boswell|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
As a storyteller, Yeun says he is drawn to those who are “unseen,” and extends the notion of life in the gap to include the character.
For Steven Yeun, making a film about Midwestern immigrants wasn’t a political statement. It was an ‘exercise in humanity.’|Sonia Rao|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
Another daughter, Christina Farmer, recalled getting a message one morning that convinced her, for a short while, that her father was extending his trip in the Indiana countryside.
An Indiana man never returned from a hunting trip. Strange texts and emojis led police to his son.|Katie Shepherd|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
It’s possible that light snow will extend into areas inside the Beltway for a time this evening.
Snow expected tonight, mainly south of D.C., before possible ice on Saturday|Jason Samenow, Wes Junker|February 11, 2021|Washington Post

They extended the lead like three times on us when we cut the lead to six, seven, eight points.
The Wizards’ defense again lets them down in loss at home to Raptors|Ava Wallace|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
At some point, show creator Mark Burnett made the diabolical decision to extend the show to 120 minutes.
Donald Trump Fires Woman For Not Calling Bill Cosby|Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We would like to extend our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of those on board QZ8501.
Wreckage, Bodies of AirAsia Crash Found|Lennox Samuels|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In order to extend their legal residence in the United States, they had to obtain other visas.
ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Growing Role of Human Trafficking in 21st Century Terrorism|Louise I. Shelley|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But would they be willing to extend their welcome to series that are streamed outside of Netflix?
15 Enraging Golden Globe TV Snubs and Surprises: Amy Poehler, 'Mad Men' & More|Kevin Fallon|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Valerie isn't going anywhere, and her work will extend through those she has cultivated and inspired.
The Valerie Jarrett I Know: How She Saved the Obama Campaign and Why She’s Indispensable|Joshua DuBois|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This impulse to extend rule appears more plainly in many of the little ceremonial observances of the child.
Children's Ways|James Sully
I presume this path does not extend many miles without meeting impediments.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
Not only do children thus of themselves extend the scope of our commands, they show a disposition to make rules for themselves.
Children's Ways|James Sully
I doubt if the modern community can afford to continue it; it certainly cannot afford to extend it very widely.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
This is especially the case in what are known as the Reed and Haydon properties which extend over about 200 acres.
Asbestos|Robert H. Jones

British Dictionary definitions for extend

extend

/ (ɪkˈstɛnd) /

verb

to draw out or be drawn out; stretch

to last for a certain timehis schooling extended for three years

(intr) to reach a certain point in time or distancethe land extends five miles

(intr) to exist or occurthe trees extended throughout the area

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

(tr) to broaden the meaning or scope ofthe law was extended

(tr) to put forth, present, or offerto extend greetings

to stretch forth (an arm, etc)

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

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

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

(tr) accounting

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

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

Derived forms of extend

extendible or extendable, adjectiveextendibility or extendability, noun

Word Origin for extend

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

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

extend

OTHER WORDS FOR extend

OPPOSITES FOR extend

Origin of extend

synonym study for extend

OTHER WORDS FROM extend

Words nearby extend

Words related to extend

How to use extend in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for extend

Derived forms of extend

Word Origin for extend