as in extends
to make longer
I had to lengthen the handle of the paint roller in order to reach the top of the wall
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Recent Examples of lengthens
Customers agree that the curved brush lengthens and volumizes their lashes, while the formula is smudge-, flake-, clump-, and sweat-proof.
—
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
The slim toe lengthens the leg, while the open heel keeps the outfit from looking heavy.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2026
Not to mention climate change, which lengthens growing seasons and increases pollen production.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 25 Mar. 2026
The law phases out several affordable repayment plans and lengthens terms for others.
—Annie Nova,kamaron McNair, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
At some point his stride lengthens, brisk, impatient.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Tyler Myers lengthens — literally and figuratively — the Stars’ back end.
—The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Ingesting it sooner lengthens the rope for more leverage.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 6 Mar. 2026
This enlargement of the larynx lengthens and thickens the vocal cords, which lowers vocal pitch.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Mar. 2026
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
The slim toe lengthens the leg, while the open heel keeps the outfit from looking heavy.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2026
Not to mention climate change, which lengthens growing seasons and increases pollen production.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 25 Mar. 2026
The law phases out several affordable repayment plans and lengthens terms for others.
—Annie Nova,kamaron McNair, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
At some point his stride lengthens, brisk, impatient.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Tyler Myers lengthens — literally and figuratively — the Stars’ back end.
—The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Ingesting it sooner lengthens the rope for more leverage.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 6 Mar. 2026
This enlargement of the larynx lengthens and thickens the vocal cords, which lowers vocal pitch.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lengthens
Verb
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The Israeli government and military have said forces will remain in a buffer zone that spans the countries' border and extends at least six miles into Lebanese territory, and that residents will not be allowed to return home, until the Hezbollah threat is removed.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
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The decision also extends to OPEC+, a larger group that consists of other oil producers such as Russia.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This greatly increases the surface area available for electrochemical reactions and enables faster charging and discharging while maintaining high power density in an extremely small footprint.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
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Across the spectrum, increases to bonus payouts ranged from 6% to 43%, with a median of 13%, and an average increase of 12%.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Noriega, the analyst, said that the amount companies are paying to cross the Panama Canal may continue to go up if the conflict stretches on, as oil prices are already skyrocketing.—
Alma Solís,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Announced Tuesday, the official feature competition includes 11 films, with France again playing an outsized role — six of the titles are French productions or co-productions — even as the selection stretches across Asia and the Americas.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That kind of reset can add weeks or more to the hiring timeline, which not just prolongs the process but also increases the risk of losing good candidates to other opportunities.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Deadheading keeps the plant neat and prolongs its blooming period.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The subtle flare balances proportions, elongates legs, and according to shoppers, does very good things for the backside.—
Mia McManus,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
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The continuous tone-on-tone color elongates the silhouette and has a refined finish.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lengthens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lengthens. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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