Library / English Dictionary

PROLONG

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer

Example:

The meeting was drawn out until midnight

Synonyms:

draw out; extend; prolong; protract

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "prolong" is one way to...):

lengthen (make longer)

Verb group:

carry; extend (continue or extend)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "prolong"):

extend (prolong the time allowed for payment of)

temporise; temporize (draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time)

spin; spin out (prolong or extend)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

prolongation (the act of prolonging something)

prolongation (the consequence of being lengthened in duration)

prolongation (amount or degree or range to which something extends)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lengthen or extend in duration or space

Example:

keep up the good work

Synonyms:

keep up; prolong; sustain

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "prolong" is one way to...):

bear on; carry on; continue; preserve; uphold (keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "prolong"):

continue; keep; keep on; retain (allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

prolongation (the act of prolonging something)

prolongation (the consequence of being lengthened in duration)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Infants who received prolonged antibiotic treatment had less diverse bacterial populations in their gut, compared to the other infants, and these bacteria contained more antibiotic resistance genes.

(Prolonged antibiotic treatment may alter preterm infants’ microbiome, National Institutes of Health)

Some anticardiolipin antibodies prolong phospholipid dependent clotting while others are associated with spontaneous abortion.

(Anticardiolipin Antibody, NCI Thesaurus)

Blocking cytokine IL-1β or associated cytokines prevented the prolonged sensitivity when given with the morphine treatment.

(Opioid Pain Relievers May Prolong Pain, NIH)

It results in thrombocytopenia, prolonged bleeding time and the presence of giant platelets.

(Bernard-Soulier Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

He could not endure a prolonged contact with another body.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Conjugation of interferon to human albumin prolongs the half-life of IFNa-2b and thereby allows for a reduction in the frequency of dosing.

(Albinterferon Alfa-2b, NCI Thesaurus)

This agent prolongs the G2 phase of the cell cycle and initiates apoptosis in tumor cells.

(Pibenzimol, NCI Thesaurus)

Prolonged exposure to mild cold also resulted in significant changes in metabolic hormones such as leptin and adiponectin.

(Cool temperature alters human fat and metabolism, NIH)

A replacement for a lost tooth structure designed for continued or prolonged use.

(Permanent Dental Restoration, NCI Thesaurus)

The evening was warm and serene, and we prolonged our walk farther than usual.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)