Prolong

//pɹəʊˈlɒŋ// verb

verb ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To extend in space or length. transitive
  2. 2
    lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer wordnet
  3. 3
    To lengthen in time; to extend the duration of. transitive

    "Complaining prolongs one’s pain."

  4. 4
    lengthen or extend in duration or space wordnet
  5. 5
    To put off to a distant time; to postpone. transitive

    "The government shouldn't prolong deciding on this issue any further."

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  1. 6
    To become longer; lengthen. intransitive

Synonyms

All synonyms
draw outadjourncontinuedawdledeferdelay

Example

More examples

"I'd like to prolong my stay in America."

Etymology

Either a back-formation from prolongation, or from Old French prolonguer or porloignier, from Latin prōlongō, from prō + longō. Doublet of purloin.

Related phrases

put off

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.