to extend

Examples

• All

• When he extended his hand like this, the birds would land on it.

  Frances 2.0 (2018)

• Push up into your bridge first, then extend your arms, then get your legs free, okay?

  Bruised (2021)

• Swing over your shoulder, extend your arms.

  A Warrior's Heart (2011)

• Her elbow is here, but her toe extends out much further.

• Yeah, there's a piece of the wing that extends out and curves down.

  StarTalk

• Extend your arms!

  For Your Eyes Only (1981)

• It's a coil of LEDs that extends and also retracts.

• To reach the top shelf, she had to extend her arms as far as they would go.

• The contractor plans to extend the deck to provide more space for outdoor gatherings.

• He extended his hand forward to shake hands with the new colleague.

Synonyms

R

to reach

vsto extend

∞ 1.0

Stretch out to touch or get something that is far

is wider, also meaning to make things physically longer or straighter

S

to stretch

vsto extend

285 1.0

Make something longer or wider by pulling it

is broader, also covering reaching out with body or object

H

to hold out

vsto extend

89 3.5

To put a hand forward to show or give something

is more general, including making things longer not only offering forward

R

to reach out

vsto extend

73 2.7

To stretch a hand toward something to touch it

covers that motion but also general physical lengthening or straightening

S

to stick out

vsto extend

61 3.2

To extend beyond a surface or edge

is broader, also covering deliberate reaching and making objects longer

L

to lengthen

vsto extend

34 2.4

Make something longer in size, distance, or time

adds the sense of physical reaching or straightening, not just lengthening

S

to stretch out

vsto extend

20 3.4

Move part of your body, for example your arm, to reach or see something

also applies to making objects physically longer or straighter

P

to put out

vsto extend

18 3.4

Hold a part of your body away from you, like a hand

also means increasing length or straightness of objects, not just moving away

E

to elongate

vsto extend

16 5.8

To make something longer by stretching or pulling it

includes that action but also means reaching out to touch

O

to outstretch

vsto extend

9 3.9

To make something reach forward, like an arm or wing

also covers general reaching as well as simply lengthening

S

to stretch along

vsto extend

2 4.2

To continue for a long distance along a narrow area

is more general, including simple reaching or making things physically longer

S

to stretch forth

vsto extend

1 6.1

To reach out a hand or arm toward something to offer help

is broader, covering both thrusting motion and general lengthening

E

to exsert

vsto extend

• Specialized

9.9

To stick out from something

is more general and includes gentle reaching or making longer

Antonyms

C

to contract

52 3.0

Become smaller or tighter, for example when a muscle shortens

S

to shorten

45 2.3

Make something shorter, for example an article, skirt, or route

Idioms

E

to extend a hand

• Informal

5 2.9

To offer help or friendship by reaching out your hand to someone

E

to extend an olive branch

• Informal

2 4.2

Offer to make peace after an argument

Phrasal Verbs

E

to extend to

58 3.4

Reach up to a certain point or limit

E

to extend oneself

1 6.9

To make a big effort beyond your usual limits

How Far

to elongate

16 5.8

to lengthen

34 2.4

to extend

265 2.7

to stretch

285 1.0

to reach

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology