Prolong
/prəˈlɔːŋ/
Definitions
To extend the time or duration of something; to make something last longer.
/prəˈlɔːŋ/
To extend the duration of something.
The teacher decided to prolong the lesson to cover all the material.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a fun game, and you really don't want it to end! Prolong means to make something go on for a longer time, like trying to stretch out the game until everyone's had enough.
👶 For kids: To make something last longer. Like if you're playing outside and you want to keep playing, you want to prolong your play time!
More Examples
The company sought to prolong the product's lifespan.
He tried to prolong the conversation to avoid the awkward silence.
How It's Used
"The meeting was prolonged due to the unexpected developments."
"The treatment aims to prolong the patient's life."
"The court decided to prolong the deadline for the filing."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Middle English *prolongen*, from Old French *prolonger* (to lengthen, extend), from Late Latin *prolongare* (to lengthen), from Latin *pro-* (forward, forth) + *longus* (long).
The word has been in use since the late 14th century, evolving from Old French usage and primarily focusing on extending time or duration.
Memory tip
Imagine a clock with a stretchy band; you're pulling that band to make time feel longer.
Word Origin
"to lengthen"