prolong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prolong" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of extending the duration of something, such as time or an event. Example: "The meeting was prolonged due to the extensive discussions on the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On Thursday evening the ministers agreed to prolong the blacklisting of pro-Russian separatist leaders from March until September, to add new names to the blacklist by next week, and asked the European commission to look into broadening the economic and financial sanctions against Russia imposed last July.

The Guardian

He added: "More and more people think it is some kind of attempt to prolong the agony for Mr Blair facing possible war crimes charges".

The Guardian

"Any departure from this carefully crafted compromise will undoubtedly reduce support for it in the House and prolong the expiration of these intelligence tools, and I urge the Senate to pass the USA Freedom Act as is and without any further delay," Schiff said on Monday.

The Guardian

That would prolong a divisive fight in the so-called "culture wars" that moderate Republicans fear have tarnished the party's reputation in recent years.

The Guardian

Kabila's opponents believe he wants to prolong his mandate by making the presidential and parliamentary elections contingent upon a new electoral roll, following a census across the vast country due to begin this year.

The Guardian

In 2011, USAid administrator Rajiv Shah warned that the aid industry "is full of incentives designed to prolong our efforts rather than reduce them or enable transitions" and said his agency would no longer be satisfied with "writing big cheques to big contractors and calling it development".

The Guardian

"There's a strong bipartisan coalition ready to slam the door shut on this latest attempt to prolong the dragnet and strip out new rules on transparency from the USA Freedom Act".

The Guardian

Not until turning 40 do you really acknowledge your own mortality and want to prolong your life and its quality.

The Guardian

At Chequers, Thatcher personally confronted Gorbachev and protested that the Soviet Union was meddling in British matters and would help to prolong the strike by giving the cash.

The Guardian

Nor is Dr Ames claiming vitamins will make you live longer than a natural human lifespan, even if he thinks they might prolong many individual lives.

The Economist

The United States has decided to prolong for another year the "outer wall" of sanctions that freezes Serbian assets in America and bars Serbia from dipping into the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other institutions.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "prolong" when you want to emphasize the act of extending something in time, especially when there might be resistance or a natural end point. For instance, "prolonging a meeting" suggests the meeting went on longer than expected or desired.

Common error

Avoid using "prolong" when describing something that naturally extends over a long period. For example, it's more appropriate to say "the study lasted for five years" rather than "the study was prolonged for five years", unless there was an intentional effort to extend it beyond its original duration.

Linguistic Context

The verb "prolong" functions primarily as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object to complete its meaning. It is used to describe the action of extending the duration of something. Ludwig indicates its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

27%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "prolong" is a versatile verb that means to extend the duration of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in news and formal business contexts. While synonyms like "extend" and "lengthen" exist, "prolong" often carries the connotation of delaying an end or overcoming resistance. To use "prolong" effectively, remember it should be used intentionally to emphasize the increasing duration of something, and avoid using it when describing things that naturally last long. Be aware of possible negative connotations when using the word, especially in the "prolong the agony" idiom which refers to extending suffering. By considering these nuances, you can use "prolong" to enrich your writing with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extend the duration of

Focuses on the duration aspect of prolongation, emphasizing the length of time involved.

draw out

Implies making something last longer, often with a sense of deliberate action.

stretch out

Suggests expanding something to make it longer, either physically or temporally.

protract

A more formal synonym that also suggests extending the duration of something, often unnecessarily.

continue

Indicates maintaining an activity or state without interruption.

drag on

Implies a tedious or unwanted continuation of something.

perpetuate

Focuses on making something continue indefinitely or for a very long time.

lengthen

Refers specifically to making something longer, whether physically or in time.

maintain

Suggests keeping something in its current state, preventing it from ending.

sustain

Implies supporting or maintaining something over a period of time.

FAQs

How do you use "prolong" in a sentence?

You can use "prolong" to describe extending the duration of something, like "The doctor tried to "prolong his life" with medication" or "Negotiations were held to "prolong the ceasefire"".

What's a good alternative to "prolong"?

Depending on the context, you could use "extend", "lengthen", "draw out", or "protract" as alternatives to "prolong".

Is it correct to say "prolong the agony"?

Yes, "prolong the agony" is a common idiom that means to extend a period of suffering or difficulty. For example, "Delaying the decision will only "prolong the agony" for everyone involved".

What is the difference between "prolong" and "extend"?

"Prolong" typically refers to making something last longer than it normally would or is expected to, often in the face of opposition or a natural limit. "Extend", on the other hand, simply means to make something longer in space or time without the implication of overcoming resistance. You can "extend" a deadline but you'd "prolong" a debate.