LENGTHEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does lengthen mean? 

• LENGTHEN (verb)
  The verb LENGTHEN has 2 senses:

1. make longer

2. become long or longer

  Familiarity information: LENGTHEN used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LENGTHEN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they lengthen    ... he / she / it lengthens   
Past simple: lengthened   
Past participle: lengthened   
-ing form: lengthening   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make longer

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

Lengthen this skirt, please

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

increase (make bigger or more)

Cause:

lengthen (become long or longer)

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

draw out; extend; prolong; protract (lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer)

elongate; stretch (make long or longer by pulling and stretching)

Sentence frames:

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

Sentence example:

They lengthen the cape

Antonym:

shorten (make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become long or longer

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

In Spring, the days lengthen

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

grow (become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

shorten (become short or shorter)

 Context examples 

The goal of treatment is to improve symptoms, increase mobility and lengthen life.

(Neuromuscular Disorders, NIH)

Slowly, slowly, the bristling ball straightened out and lengthened.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

As spring came on, a new set of amusements became the fashion, and the lengthening days gave long afternoons for work and play of all sorts.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The visit of the Miss Steeles at Barton Park was lengthened far beyond what the first invitation implied.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

A device designed to lengthen a structure.

(Extender Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene plays a role in DNA unwinding and recombination-mediated telomere lengthening.

(BLM Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

I dream of it sometimes, though at lengthened and uncertain intervals, to this hour.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

No sooner had she expressed her delight in Mr. Allen's lengthened stay than Miss Tilney told her of her father's having just determined upon quitting Bath by the end of another week.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

His face lengthened immediately; and his voice was the voice of sentiment as he answered.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Mary was satisfied with the Parsonage as a present home, and Henry equally ready to lengthen his visit.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)