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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

This week, the company said it would extend a voluntary redundancy offer to eligible employees in teams across Canada, India, the UK and US to adapt its workforce to "changing needs".

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

The findings extend the known glacial record from the region by more than 100,000 years, making these the oldest ice cores ever recovered from this part of Tibet.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026

All of a sudden, the Rays were celebrating an unlikely 4-3 victory to stave off a sweep at the hands of the Brewers and extend the World Series for at least one more day.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

In Sepember, a judge granted her request to extend the restraining order for three years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

I liked the idea that a part of one's body might be thought of as lazy—not thoughtless or hostile, just unwilling to extend itself for the betterment of the team.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

The problem extends far beyond Afghanistan, he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026

This network, known as the magnetic canopy, extends through the chromosphere, a layer of the solar atmosphere located above the Sun's visible surface.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

That category extends beyond generative AI, so the percentage should not be mistaken for a precise measure of AI exposure.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

The order, which also bars future purchases of the company’s products and services, extends to products developed by DeepSeek affiliates and third-party products built using the company’s implementations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

While I clean my teeth and mouth, the silence extends to every corner of the room.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Shares were down 2% in choppy trading in Thursday’s extended session.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

Running to 162 games, followed by extended playoffs ending in the World Series, baseball provides a longer season by game count than any other American sport.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Over the years, Cruz Jimenez has also had the “bittersweet” experience of adding her father and a nephew, along with several other extended family members, to the ever-growing ofrenda.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026

A reduced duty rate for red diesel, introduced in June until the end of the year, will also be extended to 30 June 2027.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

He extended his hand for another wet shake, and this time she was happy to take it.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

ET are expected to show a further decline in the inventory surplus, the warmer-than-usual weather seen extending well into November is keeping prices under pressure.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

The company said it is seeing “clear momentum” from its new model portfolio, with customer demand for the new electric portfolio remaining strong and order books for key models in Europe extending well into 2027.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

The glass-lined living spaces connect to the balcony, extending the home’s entertaining options outdoors.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026

By extending high above the forest floor, its reproductive structures may be better positioned to catch moving air and distribute spores through dense vegetation.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2026

The trio dashed up a narrow pathway to where they saw the robot extending its quadruple-jointed mechanical arm to pluck a flat metal box out of a slide-in compartment.

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein

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