extend
verb
ex·tend ik-ˈstend 
extended; extending; extends
transitive verb
1
: to spread or stretch forth : unbend
extended both her arms
2
a
: to stretch out to fullest length
b
: to cause (an animal, such as a horse) to move at full stride
c
: to exert (oneself) to full capacity
could work long and hard without seeming to extend himself
d(1)
: to increase the bulk of (as by adding a cheaper substance or a modifier)
(2)
: adulterate
3
[Middle English, from Medieval Latin extendere (from Latin) or Anglo-French estendre, from Old French]
a
British : to take possession of (something, such as land) by a writ of extent
b
obsolete : to take by force
4
a
: to make the offer of : proffer
extending aid to the needy
extending their greetings
b
: to make available
extending credit to customers
5
a
: to cause to reach (as in distance or scope)
national authority was extended over new territories
b
: to cause to be longer : prolong
extend the side of a triangle
extended their visit another day
also : to prolong the time of payment of
c
: advance, further
extending her potential through job training
6
a
: to cause to be of greater area or volume : enlarge
extended the patio to the back of the house
b
: to increase the scope, meaning, or application of : broaden
beauty, I suppose, opens the heart, extends the consciousness
Algernon Blackwood
Algernon Blackwood c
archaic : exaggerate
intransitive verb
1
: to stretch out in distance, space, or time : reach
their jurisdiction extended over the whole area
2
: to reach in scope or application
his concern extends beyond mere business to real service to his customers
extendability
ik-ˌsten-də-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun extendable adjective
or less commonly extendible
ik-ˈsten-də-bəl
Synonyms
- drag (out)
- draw out
- elongate
- lengthen
- outstretch
- prolong
- protract
- stretch
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He extended a hand in greeting. sitting with both legs fully extended The table measures eight feet long when it is fully extended. The table extends to eight feet in length. The woods extend for miles to the west. Their knowledge of the family's history extends back to colonial times. Their influence extends well beyond their immediate circle of friends. His popularity extends from coast to coast. See More
Recent Examples on the Web The possibilities start at lupus, but extend to a variety of other diseases that involve B cells, such as systemic sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and severe autoimmune conditions. Isabella Cueto, STAT, 16 Sep. 2022 To extend this concept to the graceful details people bring into their homes is an honor... Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2022 The blank-check firm, or SPAC, seeking to merge with Trump's new media venture and take it public, won shareholder support on Thursday to extend its merger agreement deadline to October 10, reports my colleague Matt Egan. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 9 Sep. 2022 If Juul chooses to extend the payment period to 10 years, the final settlement could reach $476.6 million, the Connecticut attorney general’s office said. Jennifer Maloney, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 Meanwhile Chardon survived overtime to beat Naples First Baptist (Fla.), 31-24, to extend its winning streak to 31 games. Jonathan X. Simmons, cleveland, 6 Sep. 2022 The Red Sox had a chance to extend their winning streak to six games, but the bullpen faltered in a 4-3 loss against the Rays Monday. Andrew Mahoney, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Center fielder Riley Greene, another rookie, singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 3 Sep. 2022 As consumer interest in foldables continues to extend to PCs, Asus will be ready. Adam Speight, WIRED, 31 Aug. 2022 See More
Isabella Cueto, STAT, 16 Sep. 2022 To extend this concept to the graceful details people bring into their homes is an honor... Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2022 The blank-check firm, or SPAC, seeking to merge with Trump's new media venture and take it public, won shareholder support on Thursday to extend its merger agreement deadline to October 10, reports my colleague Matt Egan. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 9 Sep. 2022 If Juul chooses to extend the payment period to 10 years, the final settlement could reach $476.6 million, the Connecticut attorney general’s office said. Jennifer Maloney, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 Meanwhile Chardon survived overtime to beat Naples First Baptist (Fla.), 31-24, to extend its winning streak to 31 games. Jonathan X. Simmons, cleveland, 6 Sep. 2022 The Red Sox had a chance to extend their winning streak to six games, but the bullpen faltered in a 4-3 loss against the Rays Monday. Andrew Mahoney, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Center fielder Riley Greene, another rookie, singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 3 Sep. 2022 As consumer interest in foldables continues to extend to PCs, Asus will be ready. Adam Speight, WIRED, 31 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French estendre, from Latin extendere, from ex- + tendere to stretch — more at thin
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing extend
Kids Definition
extend
verb
ex·tend ik-ˈstend
extended; extending
1
: to hold out
extend a hand
2
: to stretch out or across something
There was no way of going around it, for it seemed to extend … as far as they could see … L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz3
: to make longer
extend a visit
4
: stretch entry 1 sense 2
extend a sail
5
: enlarge
extend the meaning of a word
Medical Definition
extend
transitive verb
ex·tend ik-ˈstend
1
: to straighten out (as an arm or leg)
2
: to increase the quantity or bulk of (as by adding a cheaper substance or a modifier)
extending ground meat with cereal
also : adulterate
extend
verb
1
as in to lengthen
to make longer our guests from out of town extended their visit by a week Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- lengthen
- prolong
- increase
- stretch
- elongate
- protract
- expand
- draw out
- outstretch
- enlarge
- amplify
- drag (out)
- attenuate
- thin
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- shorten
- curtail
- reduce
- cut
- abridge
- diminish
- lessen
- decrease
- abbreviate
- cut back
- thicken
2
as in to offer
to put before another for acceptance or consideration the couple extended an invitation to join them for a get-together at their house after the concert Synonyms & Similar Words
- offer
- give
- proffer
- run by
- tender
- propose
- trot out
- run past
- submit
- pose
- hold out
- volunteer
- give in
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- take
- receive
- accept
- authorize
- approve
- confirm
- formalize
- deny
- ratify
- finalize
- sanction
- reject
- refuse
- warrant
- disallow
- okay
- accredit
- clear
- spurn
- decline
- withdraw
- retract
- disapprove
- turn down
- veto
- negative
- rebut
- ignore
- rebuff
- homologate
- approbate
- disregard
- overlook
- neglect
- OK
3
as in to expand
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area you can extend that chaise longue so that it lies completely flat Synonyms & Similar Words
- expand
- open
- unfold
- outstretch
- unfurl
- outspread
- stretch (out)
- spread (out)
- flare (out)
- fan (out)
- overspread
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reduce
- close
- contract
- fold
- compress
- compact
- condense
4
as in to lead
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction our backyard extends all the way to that brook Synonyms & Similar Words
- lead
- go
- run
- lie
- pass
- head
- cut
- cross
- span
- traverse
- follow
- course
- bear
5
as in to increase
to make greater in size, amount, or number embarked on a series of wars intended to extend his empire Synonyms & Similar Words
- increase
- expand
- accelerate
- augment
- boost
- raise
- enhance
- multiply
- reinforce
- amplify
- up
- strengthen
- intensify
- maximize
- enlarge
- escalate
- aggrandize
- stoke
- swell
- lengthen
- pump up
- build up
- compound
- prolong
- supersize
- add (to)
- supplement
- hype
- develop
- elongate
- stretch
- complement
- heighten
- jump
- protract
- distend
- inflate
- dilate
- skyrocket
- spike
- draw out
- boom
- accumulate
- magnify
- amass
- collect
- parlay
- blow up
- reenforce
- rachet (up)
- bump (up)
- follow up
- ratchet (up)
- flesh (out)
- beef (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reduce
- diminish
- shorten
- decrease
- lessen
- curtail
- lower
- abridge
- downsize
- abate
- subtract (from)
- abbreviate
- constrict
- compress
- contract
- dwindle
- condense
- minify
- retrench
- de-escalate
- cut back
6
as in to dilute
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances the company extends its ice cream with thickeners and other additives Synonyms & Similar Words
- dilute
- cut
- weaken
- load
- infect
- thin
- pollute
- manipulate
- spoil
- water down
- degrade
- poison
- dirty
- adulterate
- taint
- contaminate
- sully
- lace
- debase
- soil
- sophisticate
- attenuate
- cheapen
- qualify
- misrepresent
- defile
- befoul
- falsify
- moderate
- spike
- corrupt
- temper
- foul
- counterfeit
- envenom
- doctor
- fake
- fudge
- tamper (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- strengthen
- enrich
- fortify
- augment
- reinforce
- supplement
- improve
- fertilize
- reenforce
- enhance
- clarify
- refine
- better
- purify
- clean
- richen
- decontaminate
- cleanse
- distil
- distill
- flush
- filter
- purge
- leach
- compact
- lard
- concentrate
- pasteurize
- condense
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of extend are lengthen, prolong, and protract. While all these words mean "to draw out or add to so as to increase in length," extend and lengthen imply a drawing out in space or time but extend may also imply increase in width, scope, area, or range.
extend a vacation
extend welfare services
lengthen a skirt
lengthen the workweek
The words prolong and extend can be used in similar contexts, but prolong suggests chiefly increase in duration especially beyond usual limits.
prolonged illness
Protract adds to prolong implications of needlessness, vexation, or indefiniteness.
protracted litigation