lengthen

/ˈlɛŋθən/

/ˈlɛŋθɪn/

Other forms: lengthened; lengthening; lengthens

To lengthen is to make something longer, either physically or in time. During the spring and early summer, the days lengthen, as sundown comes later and later.

Mascara lengthens your eyelashes, and letting out your hem lengthens your jeans. As time goes by, your years of experience lengthen, and if you don't cut your hair or trim your beard, those lengthen as well. Lengthen dates from the 14th century — earlier, the verb was length, from a Germanic root that's also the basis of "long."

Definitions of lengthen

1. verb

   make longer
   “Lengthen this skirt, please”

   synonyms: elongate

   antonyms:

   shorten

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

   types:

   draw out, extend, prolong, protract

   lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer

   elongate, stretch

   make long or longer by pulling and stretching

   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

   shoetree, tree

   stretch (a shoe) on a shoetree

   type of:

   increase

   make bigger or more
2. verb

   become long or longer
   “In Spring, the days lengthen”

   synonyms: elongate

   antonyms:

   shorten

   become short or shorter

   type of:

   grow

   become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain