extend life

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extend life" is correct and usable in written English, but it depends on context and how you use it.
You can use it in a variety of ways depending on what you want to communicate. For example: "Recent advances in medical science have helped extend life expectancy for many diseases."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In ordinary medicine, the goal is to extend life.

The New Yorker

"It does extend life significantly.… You've got to see reality.

The New Yorker

And that does help us extend life and hold off death.

The New York Times - Books

He doesn't count calories or believe in extreme caloric restriction as a way to extend life.

The New York Times - Magazine

Zaltrap A drug that can extend life after a tumour has developed.

Independent

"We have treatments now that extend life span, but nothing extends our reproductive span".

The New York Times - Science

Her oncologist reported that in some cases Iressa can extend life by a matter of years.

The New Yorker

It can also help to control weight and can extend life.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But that won't be enough, particularly as improvements in health care extend life expectancy.

The New York Times

Any product on the market that claims to extend life — don't believe it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Adding Avastin and Erbitux should extend life yet again by several months, he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing medical treatments or interventions, use "extend life" to emphasize the potential to increase the duration of a patient's life. For example: "This new drug may significantly "extend life" for patients with advanced cancer".

Common error

Avoid using "extend life" when the context is more about improving the quality of life rather than its duration. Instead of saying "The therapy extended his life", if the therapy primarily improved well-being, consider "The therapy significantly improved his quality of life".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extend life" functions primarily as a verb phrase, typically used as an infinitive or part of a longer verb construction. It signifies the action of making a life longer, whether through medical intervention, lifestyle changes, or other means. Ludwig shows its use in various contexts, indicating its versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "extend life" is a versatile verb phrase widely used to describe the act of prolonging existence, particularly in medical, scientific, and general discussions about lifespan. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. Its prevalence in scientific and news media sources indicates a formal to neutral register. While closely related phrases like "prolong life" and "lengthen lifespan" exist, "extend life" maintains a distinct and frequent presence in contemporary English, conveying the core concept of increasing the duration of life.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prolong life

Focuses specifically on lengthening the duration of life, similar to the original phrase.

lengthen lifespan

Emphasizes the duration of an organism's life, synonymous with extending life.

increase longevity

Highlights the goal of achieving a longer lifespan, with a slightly more formal tone.

enhance lifespan

Similar to lengthening lifespan, but focuses on improvements to achieve a longer duration.

prolong existence

A more general term for extending the duration of being, applicable beyond just biological life.

sustain life

Focuses on maintaining life, implying a continuous effort to keep an organism alive.

preserve life

Emphasizes protecting life from threats or preventing its end.

improve life expectancy

Addresses the statistical measure of how long individuals are expected to live.

increase survival

Highlights the chance of continuing to live, often used in the context of disease or threats.

delay mortality

Focuses on pushing back the moment of death, a more clinical or scientific way to express extending life.

FAQs

How can I use "extend life" in a sentence?

You can use "extend life" to describe methods or treatments that increase the duration of someone's life. For example, "The new medication can "extend life" for patients with this condition."

What can I say instead of "extend life"?

You can use alternatives like "prolong life", "lengthen lifespan", or "increase longevity" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "extend life" or "extend lifespan"?

"Extend life" and "extend lifespan" are both correct, but "extend lifespan" typically refers to the potential maximum duration of life for a species or population, while "extend life" can refer to an individual's life.

What's the difference between "extend life" and "improve quality of life"?

"Extend life" focuses on increasing the duration of life, whereas "improve quality of life" focuses on enhancing the well-being and overall satisfaction during that life. Both are important aspects of healthcare.