lengthen
gb/lˈɛŋθən/ us/lˈɛŋθən/
B2
English
meghosszabbít, hosszabbodik, kibővít, romlik az esélye, nő a szorzója
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
lengthen [something]
The tailor can lengthen the sleeves by two centimeters.
A szabó két centiméterrel meg tudja hosszabbítani az ujjakat.
We had to lengthen the rope to reach the ground safely.
Meg kellett hosszabbítanunk a kötelet, hogy biztonságosan leérjen a földig.
They lengthened the table to fit everyone for dinner.
Learner examples
Can you lengthen this skirt?
Meg tudod hosszabbítani ezt a szoknyát?
I lengthened the strap.
Meghosszabbítottam a pántot.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *longen* (incorrect) instead of *lengthen*.
Meaning
make something physically longer
Collocations
lengthen a skirt
|lengthen a dress
|lengthen a hem
|lengthen a strap
|lengthen a rope
|lengthen a table
|lengthen the cable
|lengthen the handle
|lengthen the legs (of furniture)
|lengthen your hair
Synonyms
extend (Common general synonym; can also imply reaching outward.)
|
elongate (More formal/technical, often used in science or medicine.)
Antonyms
shorten (Make something physically shorter.)
Themes
daily_life
|clothing
|home
Definition
To make something longer.
To make something longer in its physical size or extent.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
lengthen [something] (by [amount])
They lengthened the deadline to give everyone more time.
Meghosszabbították a határidőt, hogy mindenkinek több ideje legyen.
The discussion lengthened the meeting by nearly an hour.
A vita csaknem egy órával meghosszabbította a megbeszélést.
New regulations could lengthen the approval process.
Learner examples
They lengthened the deadline.
Meghosszabbították a határidőt.
The class was lengthened by ten minutes.
Az órát tíz perccel meghosszabbították.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse *lengthen* (make longer) with *strengthen* (make stronger).
Meaning
make a period of time longer
Collocations
lengthen a meeting
|lengthen a deadline
|lengthen the process
|lengthen the wait
|lengthen the time
|lengthen a break
|lengthen the recovery
|lengthen the trial
|lengthen the schedule
|lengthen a visit
Synonyms
extend (Often used for deadlines, visas, contracts, and time limits.)
|
prolong (Suggests keeping something going longer than expected or desired.)
Antonyms
shorten (Reduce the amount of time something lasts.)
|
cut (Informal; reduce suddenly (e.g., cut the meeting short).)
Themes
work
|daily_life
|time
Definition
To make something last longer.
To make an event, process, or period last longer in time.
VERB
B2
3
hosszabbodik
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] lengthens
As spring arrives, the days begin to lengthen.
Ahogy közeledik a tavasz, a nappalok hosszabbodni kezdenek.
The queue lengthened as more people arrived.
Ahogy egyre többen érkeztek, a sor egyre hosszabb lett.
Her shadow lengthened across the road as the sun set.
Learner examples
The days are lengthening.
Hosszabbodnak a nappalok.
The line lengthened quickly.
A sor gyorsan hosszabbodott.
Common mistake:
Remember the spelling: *lengthen* (with -th-), not *lengen*.
Meaning
become longer over time
Collocations
days lengthen
|nights lengthen
|shadows lengthen
|a queue lengthens
|the gap lengthens
|the list lengthens
|the pause lengthens
|the journey lengthens
|the season lengthens
|the meeting lengthens
Synonyms
grow longer (More conversational multi-word alternative.)
|
extend (Often suggests reaching or spreading out, not only getting longer.)
Antonyms
shorten (Become shorter.)
Themes
nature
|daily_life
|time
Definition
To get longer.
To become longer in length or duration.
VERB
C1
4
kibővít
B2
Usage pattern:
lengthen [a text/speech/paragraph/answer]
The teacher asked us to lengthen our essays with more examples.
A tanár azt kérte, hogy több példával bővítsük ki a fogalmazásainkat.
Try to lengthen your answer by explaining why you chose that option.
Próbáld meg kibővíteni a válaszodat azzal, hogy elmagyarázod, miért azt a lehetőséget választottad.
He lengthened the report by adding a section on potential risks.
Learner examples
I need to lengthen my essay.
Ki kell bővítenem a fogalmazásomat.
She lengthened her answer.
Kibővítette a válaszát.
Common mistake:
Don’t use *lengthen* when you mean only to make something clearer; *clarify* may be better.
Meaning
make writing or speech longer
Collocations
lengthen an essay
|lengthen a paragraph
|lengthen your answer
|lengthen a report
|lengthen the introduction
|lengthen the conclusion
|lengthen a speech
|lengthen the summary
|lengthen a chapter
|lengthen the discussion
Synonyms
expand (Focuses on adding detail or breadth, not just extra length.)
|
pad (Often negative; adding unnecessary material to make something longer.)
Antonyms
shorten (Make a text or talk shorter.)
|
condense (Make shorter while keeping the main points.)
Themes
education
|writing
|communication
Definition
To make a text or talk longer by adding more information.
To add more content to a piece of writing or speech so that it is longer.
VERB
C1
BUSINESS
5
Usage pattern:
[someone's/something's] odds lengthen
After the injury announcement, his odds of winning lengthened overnight.
A sérülés bejelentése után egyik napról a másikra romlottak a győzelmi esélyei.
As the polls tightened, the incumbent’s odds lengthened slightly.
Ahogy szorosabbá váltak a közvélemény-kutatási eredmények, a hivatalban lévő jelölt esélyei kissé romlottak.
Bad weather can lengthen the odds of a safe landing.
Learner examples
His odds lengthened after the news.
A hír után romlottak az esélyei.
Common mistake:
This sense is mainly used with *odds*; it does not mean physical length.
Meaning
become less favorable (odds)
Collocations
odds lengthen
|his odds lengthen
|her odds lengthen
|the odds have lengthened
|their odds lengthened sharply
|odds lengthen dramatically
Synonyms
worsen (General term; not specific to betting odds.)
Antonyms
shorten (In betting, odds that shorten suggest something is more likely.)
Themes
sports
|business
|news
Definition
If the odds lengthen, something seems less likely to happen.
In betting or prediction contexts, to become less likely to happen or less favorable, reflected in higher odds.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lengthen
IPA
GB/lˈɛŋθən/
US/lˈɛŋθən/
Syllables & stress
lengthen (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (lengthen)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: lengthen
- 3rd Person Singular: lengthens
- Present Participle: lengthening
- Past: lengthened
Word family
Expressions
lengthen into [a time/period]
1/lˈɛŋθən ˈɪntu ə tˈaɪmaɪpɚiəd/
fixed phrase
continue until a later time
To go on until later.
Examples
- The meeting lengthened into the evening.
- Their chat lengthened into the early hours of the morning.
- What started as a quick stop lengthened into a long visit.
Learner examples
- The talk lengthened into the night.
lengthen out
1/lˈɛŋθən ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
make something longer; stretch it
To make something longer.
Examples
- They lengthened out the conversation to avoid going back inside.
- You can lengthen the dough out by rolling it gently.
- The editor asked her to lengthen out the final section.
Learner examples
- We lengthened out the meeting.