protract

American  

[proh-trakt, pruh-] / proʊˈtrækt, prə- /

verb (used with object)

• protracts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• protracted,
  past participle,  past
• protracting
  present participle

1. to draw out or lengthen, especially in time; extend the duration of; prolong.

   Synonyms:

   continue

   Antonyms:

   curtail

2. Anatomy. to extend or protrude.

3. (in surveying, mathematics, etc.) to plot and draw (lines) with a scale and a protractor.

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protract British  

/ prəˈtrækt /

verb

1. to lengthen or extend (a speech, etc); prolong in time

2. (of a muscle) to draw, thrust, or extend (a part, etc) forwards

3. to plot or draw using a protractor and scale

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Synonym Usage

See lengthen.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• protractedness
  noun
• overprotract
  verb (used with object)
• protractible
  adjective
• protractive
  adjective
• unprotracted
  adjective
• unprotractive
  adjective
• protractedly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• protracting
  present
• protracted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• protract
  simple
• protracts
  simple
• have protracted
  perfect
• has protracted
  perfect
• am protracting
  progressive
• are protracting
  progressive
• is protracting
  progressive
• have been protracting
  perfect progressive
• has been protracting
  perfect progressive

Past

• protracted
  simple
• had protracted
  perfect
• was protracting
  progressive
• were protracting
  progressive
• had been protracting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will protract
  simple
• will have protracted
  perfect
• will be protracting
  progressive
• will have been protracting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of protract

First recorded in 1540–50, protract is from the Latin word prōtractus (past participle of prōtrahere “to draw forth, prolong”). See pro- ¹, tract ¹

Explanation

To protract something is to stretch it out. If you have a disagreement with a friend that you continue for weeks and weeks, you are protracting the argument. Protract can also mean to draw a plan to scale. Basically when you protract something, you draw it out. You may remember from geometry that a protractor is a device used to draw exact angles. A protractor allows you to protract a plan for the perfect catapult — perfect to use to end a protracted battle.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

protract protracts protracted protracting

The judges agreed with a lower court that continuing treatment “serves only to protract his death.”

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 3, 2022

Last week, Mr Justice Hayden ruled that continued treatment was "futile" and that it "serves only to protract his death, whilst being unable to prolong his life".

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2022

Associated Newspapers "have a right to this trial, and I think that that is just going to protract the pain for Meghan Markle," Stephens said.

From Fox News ● Dec. 2, 2021

“Trying to fight that is so difficult,” she said, in part because the sovereign citizens often purposely protract litigation to stall efforts to remove them.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 26, 2021

I brushed the lever lightly, listening as the hydraulic cylinders hissed softly to protract.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

The episodic nature of the work protracts the ending.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2023

“If the conflict protracts, the Ukrainians have more leverage to be able to negotiate,” Watling said.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 3, 2022

What distinguishes this pandemic as a traumatic experience, she said, is that no one knows when it will end, which protracts anxiety.

From New York Times ● May 16, 2020

Matthew Warchus's revival protracts the overall experience to three hours... at least a small part of this excess is attributable to the meal Spall makes of his lines.

From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2016

This remorse protracts a connection which each day is productive of more painful feelings; but the heart cannot be overstrung, and anxiety ends in callousness.

From The Young Duke by Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield

With the market closed until January, the club are now in the process of finalising an agreement with manager Mikel Arteta over his protracted new contract.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

“With inflation above target for a protracted period, there is a risk of broader price pressures taking hold,” Fed governor Michael Barr said last week.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026

“It’s a long, protracted process. We’re not going to see companies flood the road with thousands of autonomous trucks tomorrow.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026

In a statement, Deloitte said it was pleased to have resolved the matter “to avoid the cost and distraction of protracted litigation.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

He told her that he realized that she had been under protracted great strain, and that he was sony about it.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

It’s good that the bar at Itsumono is a fine hangout, because as the place fills up you will hang out, with waits between drinks protracting even with two barkeeps at work.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 2, 2023

Roque was moved by the picture of loveliness that stood before him, motionless in the intensity of grief; but he was conscious of the danger he incurred by protracting his stay.

From Gómez Arias Or, The Moors of the Alpujarras, A Spanish Historical Romance. by Joaquín Telesforo de Trueba y Cosío

The day upon which Rauné's report was in the newspapers they resolved to lay down their arms; there seemed no good in protracting the struggle.

From Black Diamonds by Mór Jókai

A cold, cloudy, raw, and disagreeable spell happening at this period, though by no means common, will retard the operation considerably, protracting the period of helplessness.

From Rambles of a Naturalist by John D. Godman

Alas! this commendable design was but the protracting of a course of study already too severe for his tender and delicate constitution.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 5 by Various

Related Words

• prolong
• put off