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Synonyms

extend

American

[ik-stend] / ɪkˈstɛnd /

verb (used with object)

to stretch out; draw out to the full length.

He extended the measuring tape as far as it would go.

Antonyms:

contract, shorten
to stretch, draw, or arrange in a given direction, or so as to reach a particular point, as a cord, wall, or line of troops.
to stretch forth or hold out, as the arm or hand.

to extend one's hand in greeting.
to place at full length, especially horizontally, as the body or limbs.
to increase the length or duration of; lengthen; prolong.

to extend a visit.

Synonyms:

continue
to stretch out in various or all directions; expand; spread out in area.

A huge tent was extended over the field.

Synonyms:

dilate, widen, enlarge
to enlarge the scope of, or make more comprehensive, as operations, influence, or meaning.

The European powers extended their authority in Asia.
to provide as an offer or grant; offer; grant; give.

to extend aid to needy scholars.

Synonyms:

impart, bestow
Finance. to postpone (the payment of a debt) beyond the time originally agreed upon.
to increase the bulk or volume of, especially by adding an inexpensive or plentiful substance.
Bookkeeping. to transfer (figures) from one column to another.
Law.
1. British. to assess or value.
2. to make a seizure or levy upon, as land, by a writ of extent.
Manège. to bring (a horse) into an extended attitude.
to exert (oneself ) to an unusual degree.
Archaic. to exaggerate.
Obsolete. to take by seizure.

verb (used without object)

to be or become extended; stretch out in length, duration, or in various or all directions.
to reach, as to a particular point.
to increase in length, area, scope, etc.
Manège. (of a horse) to come into an extended attitude.

extend British

/ ɪkˈstɛnd /

verb

to draw out or be drawn out; stretch
to last for a certain time

his schooling extended for three years
(intr) to reach a certain point in time or distance

the land extends five miles
(intr) to exist or occur

the trees extended throughout the area
(tr) to increase (a building, etc) in size or area; add to or enlarge
(tr) to broaden the meaning or scope of

the law was extended
(tr) to put forth, present, or offer

to extend greetings
to stretch forth (an arm, etc)
(tr) to lay out (a body) at full length
(tr) to strain or exert (a person or animal) to the maximum
(tr) to prolong (the time originally set) for payment of (a debt or loan), completion of (a task), etc
(tr) accounting
1. to carry forward
2. to calculate the amount of (a total, balance, etc)
(tr) law (formerly in England) to value or assess (land)

"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

Synonym Usage

See lengthen.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of extend

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English extenden, from Latin extendere “to stretch out.” See ex- ¹, tend ¹

Explanation

The verb extend can have several related meanings, including thrust out, continue, broaden, expand, unfold, span, or increase in scope. Extend, as a verb, is used in many ways. You extend (hold out) your hand when you offer to shake. You extend (push forward) a deadline when you add a few days to it. Your belly might extend (broaden) after a holiday dinner. A telescope extends (expands) your range of vision. If the list of definitions for extend were infinite, you could extend (add to) that list forever and ever. But your patience might not extend that far.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

extend extends extended extending

If you extend to a 10-year horizon, then valuation connects to performance as you would expect.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

“Many studios are now building a lot of gaming content as well, so allowing them to extend their own standalone game into ‘Fortnite,’ into the theme park, into the theater is really powerful.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

Its big prediction: AI is on course to extend the dominance of fossil fuels.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

A major long-term goal is to extend the approach to people.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

For the chief virtue of a gradual approach was to extend the cost of compensation over several decades so that the full bill never landed at one time or even on one generation.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

“For now, either Trump extends the deadline, or an interim agreement is struck,” Holt said in a note.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

Surrounding it is an extremely dense, star-like envelope of hydrogen that extends across approximately the size of the solar system.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

Moreno has shown no public interest in a third negotiation with the city, and the Angels’ current stadium lease extends through 2032, with the team having options to extend the lease through 2038.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

The pullback extends to PIK, which has become an essential feature for borrowers in need of a reprieve from payments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

Instead of answering he extends his own hand to the porter, producing enough money for two tickets.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

CD&R eventually agreed to a plan that reduced Multi-Color’s debt by $3.8 billion and extended maturities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Light enters the device and is directed into a ring, where it can continue circulating for an extended period.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

However, Arsenal have been dealt a blow with an injury to defender William Saliba, who is set to miss an "extended period" after suffering a back injury at the World Cup.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

Observer missions called for parties to tone down inflammatory statements as the votes cast on Thursday were tallied, and some teams extended their deployment because of the tensions.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

He spun to the Varangian and extended his non-fish hand for a shake.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

The bone has short projections extending outward that resemble horns, and it lacks a ventral median groove.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026

Senior Principal Veterinary Officer Elsie McGarvey said the department was "technically" potentially in breach of the court order by extending the grace period.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

U.S. natural gas futures retreated after the EIA reported an above-estimate 36 Bcf weekly inventory build, extending the storage surplus to 198 Bcf from 195 Bcf, despite hot weather spurring high electricity demand.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Those tables, plus a hard-to-decipher map dating to the same time, show high levels of a carcinogenic chemical on the property and extending beyond it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

I’d put in the hours to polish my form, fully extending my limbs for a long, clean, graceful line.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023