lengthen

USAGE SUMMARY

"lengthen" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the action of making something longer in time or distance. For example: "The race organizers chose to lengthen the course by a mile."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This time every year, without fail, the temperature rises, the evenings lengthen and the UK Eurovision organisers force some poor unknown gonk to shriek out an abysmal mess of a career-ending almost-song to universal disdain.

The Guardian - Opinion

The figures led the charity Alzheimer's Research UK to say that, with age the biggest risk factor for developing dementia and life expectancy set to continue to lengthen worldwide, "dementia is increasingly becoming our greatest medical challenge".

The Guardian

Arabs, on the other hand, have continued to make lots of babies as their lifespans lengthen.

The Economist

Self-deprecating, free (so far) of the scandals that saw off some of his predecessors, and fairly hawkish on Japan's fiscal malaise, he has an opportunity to lift the country out of its 20-year funk, but a mountain of challenges and a dearth of popular support lengthen the odds.

The Economist

"IF WE could only persuade every person in China to lengthen his shirttail by a foot, we could keep the mills of Lancashire working round the clock".

The Economist

When the crisis first hit, Mr Bernanke's first step was to lower the interest rate and lengthen the term on direct loans to banks from the Fed's discount window.

The Economist

He wants to employ more staff and lengthen the operating hours in the group's 100 biggest hypermarkets.

The Economist

Mechanical actuators are used to shorten and lengthen the cables, so that the rovers change shape as they repeatedly tip over in the direction they want to go.

The Economist

As the spaces get filled, the odds of opening a pack and finding a sticker you want lengthen.

The Economist

The company also plans to lengthen the maturity of its debt.

The Economist

As Europe's sovereign-debt crisis dominates headlines, many policymakers are looking back to the lessons of Latin America for guidance, be it Uruguay's decision to lengthen the maturity of its debts or the use of Brady bonds to reduce the region's debt burden.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lengthen", consider whether "extend", "prolong", or "elongate" might be more precise depending on whether you are referring to physical length, time, or appearance.

Common error

Avoid using "lengthen" when you actually mean to "widen". "Lengthen" refers specifically to increasing length, while "widen" refers to increasing width.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "lengthen" is as a transitive or intransitive verb. It describes the action of making something longer or becoming longer. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

24%

Science

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "lengthen" is a versatile verb used to describe the act of making something longer in either physical dimension or duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English. With a high frequency of occurrence in news, business, and scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse applications. When choosing alternatives, consider nuances between options like "extend", "prolong", and "elongate" to ensure the most accurate and impactful communication. Remember to distinguish "lengthen" from "widen" to avoid common errors. "Lengthen" generally describes to make something longer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extend

Similar to "lengthen" but can also imply broadening or widening in addition to increasing length.

prolong

Focuses specifically on extending the duration of something, typically time.

elongate

Emphasizes the visual aspect of making something appear longer or stretch out.

stretch out

Informal way to express making something longer, often by physically pulling it.

draw out

Implies extending something in a gradual or protracted manner, often used with time or discussions.

increase in length

A more descriptive phrase that clearly indicates the action of becoming longer.

make longer

A straightforward and simple way to express the idea of increasing length.

protract

Similar to prolong, but often suggests an unnecessary or tedious extension.

continue

Implies the continuation of something over a long duration of time.

expand

Focuses on increasing the overall size of something and it's more commonly used in contexts other than length.

FAQs

How can I use "lengthen" in a sentence?

You can use "lengthen" to describe making something longer, for example: "The tailor will "lengthen" the skirt." or "We need to "lengthen" the rope."

What is a synonym for "lengthen"?

Synonyms for "lengthen" include "extend", "prolong", and "elongate". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "lengthen" and "elongate"?

"Lengthen" is a general term for making something longer. "Elongate" often refers to making something appear more slender or stretched out.

Is it correct to say "lengthen out"?

While not grammatically incorrect, using "lengthen" alone is typically more concise and preferred. "Lengthen out" can sometimes sound redundant.