prolong

[pruh-lawng, -long]

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verb (used with object)

to lengthen out in time; extend the duration of; cause to continue longer: to prolong one's stay abroad.

to make longer in spatial extent: to prolong a line.

Nearby words

Origin of prolong

1375–1425; late Middle English prolongen < Late Latin prōlongāre to lengthen, equivalent to prō- pro-¹ + long(us) long¹ + -ā- theme vowel + -re infinitive ending

SYNONYMS FOR prolong

1. See lengthen.

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ANTONYMS FOR prolong

1. abbreviate.

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Related forms

pro·long·a·ble, adjectivepro·long·a·ble·ness, nounpro·long·a·bly, adverbpro·long·er, noun

pro·long·ment, nounun·pro·long·a·ble, adjectiveun·pro·longed, adjectivewell-pro·longed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for prolong

We smile weakly, not wanting to let them down or prolong the conversation.
The Malaysian Air Tragedy Reawakens a Primal Fear|Kelly Williams Brown|July 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When he finally became president, Nixon walked away from that war to prolong a futile one half a world away.
100 Years of Right (And Left) Moves|Robert Shrum|March 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Drugs are becoming more powerful with prescription painkillers used to enhance effect and prolong a deleterious pleasure.
Heroin: America’s Silent Assassin|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Robert M. Lober, MD, PhD|February 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What the U.S. is doing now can only prolong Syrian and regional agonies.
Face the Assad Reality In Syria|Frank G. Wisner, Leslie H. Gelb|January 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In Congress, Radel has been a strong conservative and Tea Party favorite who voted to prolong the government shutdown in October.
Hip-Hop Conservative Rep. Trey Radel Charged With Cocaine Possession|Ben Jacobs|November 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Stop, Paganel, don't excite yourself; I don't mean to say that we should prolong our search in America.
In Search of the Castaways|Jules Verne
It will prolong the time till our visitors can overtake us, and will give us a better chance of having a breeze spring up.
The Cruise of the Frolic|W.H.G. Kingston
By supplying the party with water from the camp, I enabled them to prolong the line to 30 miles.
Expedition into Central Australia|Charles Sturt
So much the better; I will try to prolong the interview, and not leave her till to-morrow morning.
San-Cravate; or, The Messengers; Little Streams|Charles Paul de Kock
That which we try to prolong is the existence in living condition, of the body.
Seed Thoughts for Singers|Frank Herbert Tubbs

British Dictionary definitions for prolong

prolong

verb

(tr) to lengthen in duration or space; extend

Derived Formsprolongation (ˌprəʊlɒŋˈɡeɪʃən), nounprolonger, nounprolongment, noun

Word Origin for prolong

C15: from Late Latin prōlongāre to extend, from Latin pro- 1 + longus long

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

Word Origin and History for prolong

prolong

early 15c., back-formation from prolongation or else from Old French prolonguer, porloignier (13c.), from Late Latin prolongare "to prolong, extend," from Latin pro- "forth" (see pro-) + longus "long" (adj.); see long (adj.). Related: Prolonged; prolonging; prolongable.