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.

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prolong British  

/ prəˈlɒŋ /

verb

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

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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

This abnormal activity can prolong inflammation and damage tissue through excessive release of proteases and reactive oxygen species.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

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

This year’s El Niño is also expected to prolong an already existing marine heat wave — currently in effect for reasons unrelated to El Niño — off the Southern California coast.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

I sampled the cake to prolong the silence.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

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

It’s not the phone itself causing problems, of course, but the fact that it often prolongs a visit to the toilet.

From Slate ● Sep. 12, 2025

"We need to make a choice - do we want to have an economic way forward or a way forward that increases and prolongs life?" he told BBC News NI.

From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2024

They caution us that while waiting for sponsors many refugees get married and have children, and each time that happens new paperwork must be drawn up, which prolongs their stay.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung

Although their presence is well documented, scientists are still working to understand what prolonged exposure could mean for human health.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026

A closer examination showed that the prolonged X-ray emission was being powered directly by the remnant left behind by the merger, rather than by the outward-moving blast wave.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

Whilst scattered showers will affect the north-west on Wednesday, a spell of more prolonged rain is expected in eastern England - good news for areas that saw very little rain over the past month.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

A stronger-than-expected El Nino could further tighten global palm oil supply, with production in Malaysia and Indonesia potentially falling 3%-8% under moderate to prolonged dry conditions, he reckons.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

When the prolonged shaking knocked out power lines, backup generators clicked on to run the plant’s instrument panels and keep critical coolant moving through the reactors.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

Macrophages may remain locked in pro-inflammatory states instead of moving toward repair, prolonging tissue damage and preventing the wound from progressing normally.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

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

I wouldn’t do anything that could risk extending my stay or prolonging my sentence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Because he couldn’t stand the torment of prolonging things, he broke their embrace.

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner

Related Words

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