prolong

American  

[pruh-lawng, -long] / prəˈlɔŋ, -ˈlɒŋ /

verb (used with object)

• prolongs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• prolonged,
  past participle,  past
• prolonging
  present participle

1. to lengthen out in time; extend the duration of; cause to continue longer.

   to prolong one's stay abroad.

   Antonyms:

   abbreviate

2. to make longer in spatial extent.

   to prolong a line.

---

prolong British  

/ prəˈlɒŋ /

verb

1. (tr) to lengthen in duration or space; extend

---

Synonym Usage

See lengthen.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prolongableness
  noun
• prolongation
  noun
• prolonger
  noun
• prolongment
  noun
• prolongable
  adjective
• unprolongable
  adjective
• prolongably
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• prolonging
  present
• prolonged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• prolong
  simple
• prolongs
  simple
• have prolonged
  perfect
• has prolonged
  perfect
• am prolonging
  progressive
• are prolonging
  progressive
• is prolonging
  progressive
• have been prolonging
  perfect progressive
• has been prolonging
  perfect progressive

Past

• prolonged
  simple
• had prolonged
  perfect
• was prolonging
  progressive
• were prolonging
  progressive
• had been prolonging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will prolong
  simple
• will have prolonged
  perfect
• will be prolonging
  progressive
• will have been prolonging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of prolong

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English prolongen, from Late Latin prōlongāre “to lengthen,” equivalent to prō- “forward, forth” + long(us) “long” + -ā- theme vowel + -re infinitive ending; see pro- ¹, long ¹

Explanation

I don't want to prolong this definition, so I'll keep it short. To prolong is to make something last longer or to stretch it out in time. You see the word long in prolong and it's no trick. If you prolong an argument with a sibling, you make it longer than it naturally would be. Prolong always has to do with time. When you stretch your neck or a piece of cloth to make it appear longer, you are elongating, not prolonging, it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prolong prolongs prolonged prolonging

Oil prices slipped in early trading after Brent crude breached $100 a barrel, as escalating attacks in the Middle East threatened to dramatically prolong disruptions to energy flows.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

Long-term agreements are one way that the chip makers can prolong or insure their earnings an margins, by tying up clients into deals that last years.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

“I feel like that’s helped prolong my career. … You can take what you want and take what works for you … that’s kind of the advice I give.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

A permanent position would reassure markets of policy continuity, while a temporary role could prolong uncertainty and leave the burden of maintaining stability to her eventual successor, they said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

I was furious that the State would try to prolong any order granting relief to Walter.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

But, for people without symptoms or high-risk conditions, the American College of Radiology says there is not enough evidence to recommend it and no documented proof that it prolongs life or is cost-effective.

From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026

What we do not yet have are large, definitive randomized trials showing that high-dose intravenous vitamin C clearly prolongs life for most cancer patients.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026

Polling by Abacus Data shows nearly 70% of Canadians want Ottawa to hold firm in negotiations, even if it prolongs economic pain.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

It prolongs an earlier easing of sanctions that expired on April 11.

From Barron's ● Apr. 22, 2026

This prolongs the period the larvae must spend in the hazardous world of the plankton and so decreases the chance they will live to adulthood.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Local activists told a different story: It was kids’ prolonged isolation from their families that caused them to languish.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

The Marin County Sheriff’s Office coroner’s division identified him as Daniel Zhengyu Qin, 35, of San Jose, adding that he died “despite prolonged resuscitative efforts.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

You can either self-insure and set aside enough money for a prolonged period of care, buy traditional long-term-care insurance, or decide upon some kind of combination.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

The experiment did not establish lasting memory benefits, slower aging, or the safety of prolonged use in older adults.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026

Reviewing Melquíades’ notes, serene now, without the exaltation of novelty, in prolonged and patient sessions they tried to separate Úrsula’s gold from the debris that was stuck to the bottom of the pot.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

On Thursday, the World Meteorological Society issued a new El Niño forecast warning that there is a nearly 100% chance it will continue through February, prolonging its effects.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

Many operators now avoid the passage and send ships instead around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope, vastly prolonging the journey between Asia and Europe and driving up fuel costs and emissions.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

However, Lawson's issue - in terms of prolonging his career in F1 - is recent history, and his current team-mate.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

If Hyundai management doesn’t agree to labor’s demands by Thursday, the union has said it would consider prolonging the partial strike or taking stronger actions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

The idea of subsisting on greenery alone — of prolonging that full-yet-empty stabbing sensation in my stomach — was totally unappealing, but the leaves would keep me alive.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer

Related Words

• continue
• delay
• drag out
• lengthen
• perpetuate
• protract
• stall