prolong
gb/pɹəlˈɔŋ/ us/pɹəlˈɔŋ/
B2
English
~ 10000
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
make something last longer
To make something continue for more time than before.
Usage pattern:
to prolong [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *prolong* when they mean *delay* or *postpone*. *Prolong* means to make something continue longer once it has started (e.g., "prolong the meeting"), while *delay* or *postpone* mean to make something start later (e.g., "delay the meeting"). Learners also sometimes say "make it more long" instead of using the single verb *prolong* or *make it last longer*.
Synonyms
extend (More general; can refer to time, space, or range, while "prolong" is mainly about time.)
|
lengthen (Often used for physical length or time; slightly more concrete and everyday than "prolong".)
|
drag out (Informal; suggests something is made longer in an annoying or boring way.)
Antonyms
shorten (Means to make something shorter in time or length, the direct opposite of making it longer.)
|
cut short (Means to stop something earlier than planned, the opposite of continuing it longer.)
Collocations
prolong life
|prolong the meeting
|prolong the discussion
|prolong the conflict
|prolong suffering
|needlessly prolong
Themes
time
|medicine
|work
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The medication can prolong a patient’s life by several years.
- We don’t want to prolong the meeting, so please keep your comments brief.
- Delays in making a decision will only prolong the uncertainty for everyone involved.
- The government’s actions may prolong the economic crisis.
- He refused painkillers because he didn’t want to prolong the recovery process.
Learner examples
- Stress can prolong an illness.
- Cold weather can prolong the drying time of paint.
- Let’s not prolong this argument.
- The new treatment can prolong his life.
- Waiting for more data will only prolong the project.
Grammar
Dictionary form
prolong
IPA
GB/pɹəlˈɔŋ/
US/pɹəlˈɔŋ/
Syllables & stress
pro - long (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (long)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: prolong
- 3rd Person Singular: prolongs
- Present Participle: prolonging
- Past: prolonged
Word family
Forms
prolongs
verb
prolonging
verb
prolonged
verb
Negative and opposite forms
shorten
verb A2
Advanced or less common
prolongation
noun
Expressions
prolong the agony
1/pɹəlˈɔŋ ðə ˈæɡəni/
idiom
informal
Make suffering or suspense last longer
To make a time of pain, sadness, or waiting longer than needed.
Examples
- Let’s not prolong the agony—just tell us the result.
- They prolonged the agony by delaying the announcement.
prolong the agony
2/pɹəlˈɔŋ ðə ˈæɡəni/
idiom
delay something unpleasant unnecessarily
To wait longer before doing or saying something unpleasant, making people feel bad for more time.
Examples
- I won’t prolong the agony—here are the exam results.
- Let’s not prolong the agony; just tell her the truth now.