WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pro•lon•ga•tion
(prō′lông gā′shən, -long-),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- the act of prolonging:the prolongation of a line.
- the state of being prolonged.
- a prolonged or extended form.
- an added part.
- Late Latin prōlongātiōn- (stem of prōlongātiō) extension. See prolongate, -ion
- 1480–90
pro•long /prəˈlɔŋ, -ˈlɑŋ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to extend the amount of time for; cause (something) to continue longer:prolonged their visit.
pro•long
(prə lông′, -long′),USA pronunciation v.t.
pro•long′a•ble, adj.
pro•long′a•ble•ness, n.
pro•long′a•bly, adv.
pro•long′er, n.
pro•long′ment, n.
- to lengthen out in time;
extend the duration of;
cause to continue longer:to prolong one's stay abroad. - to make longer in spatial extent:to prolong a line.
- Late Latin prōlongāre to lengthen, equivalent. to prō- pro-1 + long(us) long1 + -ā- theme vowel + -re infinitive ending
- late Middle English prolongen 1375–1425
pro•long′a•ble•ness, n.
pro•long′a•bly, adv.
pro•long′er, n.
pro•long′ment, n.
- 1. See lengthen.
- 1. abbreviate.
'prolongation' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
continuation
- prolong
- protraction
- sustain
- carpophore
- continuance
- continuative
- gib
- mecism
- rachis
- resonance
- trichogyne
- walking fern
- snout
- suspension