EN

Synonyms for lengthen

11 synonyms
10 antonyms

verb

Most common

stretch extend prolong elongate continue stretch out amplify protract

All synonyms

Verb

prolong, extend, stretch, elongate, draw out, produce, stretch out, continue, amplify, spin out, protract

Antonyms

shorten, contract, abbreviate

All antonyms of lengthen →

Definitions

v. 1
To make longer, to extend the length of.
You need to lengthen the story if you want to have it published.

Related words

Word family: lengthened lengthener
Phrases: lengthen out

Forms

Past participle: lengthened
e.g. lengthened → prolonged, extended, stretched, elongated…

Example sentences

stretch My friend got to ride a stretch limousine to prom!
extend I want to extend my stay here for a few more days.
prolong Look, I don't want to prolong this--you're fired.
elongate Stretching out the rubber band will elongate it considerably.
continue We have to continue doing this until it gets done.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
lengthen		steady
stretch		rising
extend		falling
prolong		steady
elongate		falling
continue		steady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

6 letters: extend²
7 letters: produce², stretch¹, prolong², amplify³
8 letters: continue³, elongate³, protract²

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (extend² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: rallonger