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lengthen

[ lengk-thuhn, leng-, len- ]
/ ˈlɛŋk θən, ˈlɛŋ-, ˈlɛn- /
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See synonyms for: lengthen / lengthened / lengthening on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
to make longer; make greater in length.
verb (used without object)
to become greater in length; grow long or longer.

OTHER WORDS FOR lengthen

1 elongate, draw out.
See synonyms for lengthen on Thesaurus.com
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Origin of lengthen

First recorded in 1490–1500; length + -en1

synonym study for lengthen

1. 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 WORDS FROM lengthen

length·en·er, nounoutlengthen, verb (used with object)un·length·ened, adjective

Words nearby lengthen

Lenexa, L'Enfant, Lenglen, length, length between perpendiculars, lengthen, lengthman, length over all, lengthways, lengthwise, lengthy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to lengthen

augment, elongate, expand, prolong, amplify, continue, dilate, distend, draw, increase, pad, proceed, protract, reach, stretch, drag out, draw out, let out, prolongate, spin out

How to use lengthen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lengthen

lengthen
/ (ˈlɛŋkθən, ˈlɛŋθən) /
verb
to make or become longer

Derived forms of lengthen

lengthener, 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
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