prolong

1 of 2

verb

pro·​long prə-ˈlȯŋ How to pronounce prolong (audio)
prolonged; prolonging; prolongs
Synonyms of prolongnext

transitive verb

1
: to lengthen in time : continue
2
: to lengthen in extent, scope, or range
prolongation
(ˌ)prō-ˌlȯŋ-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce prolong (audio) prə- How to pronounce prolong (audio)
noun
prolonger
prə-ˈlȯŋ-ər How to pronounce prolong (audio)
noun

prolonger

2 of 2

noun

pro·​long·​er prəˈlȯŋə(r) How to pronounce prolonger (audio)
prōˈ-
plural -s
: one that prolongs

Synonyms of prolong

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for prolong

extend, lengthen, prolong, protract mean to draw out or add to so as to increase in length.

extend and lengthen imply a drawing out in space or time but extend may also imply increase in width, scope, area, or range.

extend a vacation
extend welfare services
lengthen a skirt
lengthen the workweek

prolong suggests chiefly increase in duration especially beyond usual limits.

prolonged illness

protract adds to prolong implications of needlessness, vexation, or indefiniteness.

protracted litigation

Examples of prolong in a Sentence

Verb Additives are used to prolong the shelf life of packaged food. High interest rates were prolonging the recession.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Many of his domestic critics have faulted him for prolonging the war in Gaza to appease his far-right allies, and for permitting ultra-Orthodox Jews to forgo military service to appease that sizable religious voter bloc. — Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026 Its latest treadmill run could reveal how well the platform withstands prolonged repetitive movement. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026 Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains dangerous and constrained, prolonging uncertainty over oil supplies and fuel prices. — Cathy Bussewitz, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026 Ukraine's leader warned that easing sanctions without a commitment from Russia to de-escalate the war will only prolong it. — Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prolong

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Middle French prolonguer, from Late Latin prolongare, from Latin pro- forward + longus long

Noun

prolong + -er

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prolong was in the 15th century

Rhymes for prolong

See All Rhymes for prolong

Browse Nearby Words

prologue
prolong
prolongable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prolong.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prolong. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

prolong

verb
pro·​long prə-ˈlȯŋ How to pronounce prolong (audio)
: to make longer in time
prolonged the visit
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