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lengthen
/ˈlɛŋkθən/
make longer
She decided to lengthen her dress by adding a few inches to the hem.
She increased the dress's length by sewing extra fabric at the bottom.
general
to make or become longer in duration, size, or extent
The meeting was lengthened by an hour due to unexpected discussions.
The meeting lasted an hour longer than planned because of extra topics.
He lengthened his stride to catch up with the group.
He increased the length of his steps to walk faster.
Commonly used with objects, time periods, or physical dimensions. Opposite of 'shorten'.
Collocations
lengthen the durationto make something last longerlengthen a skirtto make a skirt longer by adding fabriclengthen the shadowsto make shadows appear longer as the sun sets
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'extend'
'Lengthen' specifically implies increasing physical length or duration, while 'extend' can also mean to stretch out spatially or figuratively (e.g., extend a deadline, extend a hand).
Gold Rule
Physical vs. Abstract Use
'Lengthen' is almost always used for measurable physical dimensions or time. For abstract concepts like 'prolonging a feeling,' use 'prolong' instead.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'lengthen', from Old English 'lengan' (to lengthen), from 'lang' (long) + '-en' (suffix forming verbs). Cognate with Old Norse 'langa' and Dutch 'verlengen'.
Usage Notes
Primarily used for physical dimensions or time. In formal writing, 'prolong' is preferred for time-related contexts, while 'lengthen' is more common for physical objects.
Word Breakdown
length
the measurement of something from end to end
root-en
suffix forming verbs from adjectives/nouns
suffixEnglish Dictionary