Antonyms for lengthen
ˈlɛŋk θən, ˈlɛŋ-, ˈlɛn-length·en

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. lengthenverb

   Antonyms:
   shorten

2. lengthenverb

   Antonyms:
   shorten

3. lengthenverb

   Antonyms:
   shorten

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. lengthen

   To protract is to cause to occupy a longer time than is usual, expected, or desirable. We defer a negotiation which we are slow to enter upon; we protract a negotiation which we are slow to conclude; delay may be used of any stage in the proceedings; we may delay a person as well as an action, but defer and protract are not used of persons. Elongate is not used of actions or abstractions, but only of material objects or extension in space; protract is very rarely used of concrete objects or extension in space; we elongate a line, protract a discussion. Protract has usually an unfavorable sense, implying that the matter referred to is already unduly long, or would be so if longer continued; continue is neutral, applying equally to the desirable or the undesirable. Postpone implies a definite intention to resume, as defer also does, though less decidedly; both are often used with some definite limitation of time; as, to postpone till, until, or to a certain day or hour. One may defer, delay, or postpone a matter intelligently and for good reason; he procrastinates through indolence and irresolution. Compare HINDER.

   Antonyms:
   abbreviate, abridge, conclude, contract, curtail, hasten, hurry, limit, reduce, shorten

   Synonyms:
   continue, defer, delay, draw out, elongate, extend, postpone, procrastinate, prolong, protract

   Preposition:
   To protract a speech by verbosity, through an unreasonable time, to, till, or until a late hour.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. lengthen

   Synonyms:
   elongate, stretch out, prolong

Matched Categories

1. • Grow
   • Increase

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. lengthenverb

   make longer

   "Lengthen this skirt, please"

   Antonyms:
   shorten

2. lengthenverb

   become long or longer

   "In Spring, the days lengthen"

   Antonyms:
   shorten

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. lengthenverb

   Synonyms:
   extend, elongate, stretch, prolong, protract, expatiate, amplify

Editors ContributionRate these antonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. excerpt

   i decided to lengthen my essay so it was more elaborate.

   Submitted by rinat on October 3, 2019  

How to use lengthen in a sentence?

1. Charles de LEUSSE:

   The waves s' lengthen on the beach; Your hair on your back of an Angel. (Les vagues s’allongent sur la plage; Tes cheveux sur ton dos d’ange. )

2. Cullen Hightower:

   Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else's can shorten it.

3. Ryan Pack:

   The Grocery Store Method: I want you to think of it like this: Everytime you adopt a child you shorten the checkout line and your one step closer to world peace, and everytime you have a biological child you lengthen the checkout line and your one step farther from world peace.

4. Larry Wall:

   The purpose of most computer languages is to lengthen your resume by a word and a comma.

5. Chief Executive Officer Almir Bendine:

   Even if we hit a road-bump we have sufficient cash through 2017, this doesn't mean if we have good opportunities to raise cash or lengthen maturities we won't do it.

How to pronounce lengthen?

How to say lengthen in sign language?

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