to protract

Examples

• All

• Protracted litigation has generally been the tool used to achieve these goals, requiring substantial time and money.

  Academic text (1998)

• Grieving may be protracted and intensified as the mourner suffers damage to his or her self-esteem.

  Academic text (2011)

• The discussions on this article were protracted.

  Academic text (1997)

• Second, this case shows that court battles can be protracted and therefore expensive as they proceed through the appellate system.

  Academic text (1994)

• The current scheme of wetlands regulation has been criticized for being protracted and uncertain.

  Academic text (1994)

• Protracted negotiations resulted in consequent alterations to the construction and direction of the gas pipeline.

  Academic text (2000)

• Such a pittance of troops as Great Britain and Ireland can supply will only serve to protract the war, to incur fruitless expense and ensure disappointment.

• The negotiations to resolve the conflict were protracted, taking months to reach an agreement.

• If we continue to protract this discussion, we may miss the deadline for our project.

• Her recovery from surgery was protracted, requiring several weeks of rehabilitation.

Synonyms

E

to extend

vsto protract

680 3.2

To make something reach farther, such as more places or people

focuses specifically on making duration longer rather than widening scope

P

to prolong

vsto protract

96 3.9

To make something last longer

often implies unnecessary extension rather than a neutral lengthening

L

to lengthen

vsto protract

34 2.4

Make something longer in size, distance, or time

limits meaning to increasing time length rather than physical size

D

to drag out

vsto protract

• Informal

23 5.1

Make something last longer than needed, causing boredom or frustration

does the same extension but without the negative emotional effect

D

to draw out

vsto protract

9 4.0

Make a conversation or event last longer than usual

has identical sense but appears as a single more formal word

S

to spin out

vsto protract

• Informal

1 5.6

To make something last longer than needed

is similar but carries a more formal or written register

S

to spin-out

vsto protract

• Informal

6.7

To make something last longer by making it finish later

shares deliberate prolonging but is more neutral in tone

Antonyms

C

to curtail

52 6.3

To make something shorter or less than planned

S

to shorten

45 2.3

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

How Long

to protract

4 7.8

to extend

680 3.2

to prolong

96 3.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology