protract

verb

pro·​tract prō-ˈtrakt 

prə-

protracted; protracting; protracts

transitive verb

1

: to prolong in time or space : continue

2

: to extend forward or outward compare retract sense 1

3

archaic : delay, defer

protractive

prō-ˈtrak-tiv 

prə-

adjective

Synonyms

• drag (out)
• draw out
• elongate
• extend
• lengthen
• outstretch
• prolong
• stretch

Choose the Right Synonym for protract

extend, lengthen, prolong, protract mean to draw out or add to so as to increase in length.

extend and lengthen imply a drawing out in space or time but extend may also imply increase in width, scope, area, or range.

extend a vacation

extend welfare services

lengthen a skirt

lengthen the workweek

prolong suggests chiefly increase in duration especially beyond usual limits.

prolonged illness

protract adds to prolong implications of needlessness, vexation, or indefiniteness.

protracted litigation

Examples of protract in a Sentence

the highway project was protracted by years of litigation

Recent Examples on the Web

Hochstein said an all-out war with Hezbollah risks a much broader and protracted regional conflict, the sources said. —Barak Ravid, Axios, 16 Sep. 2024

This movie has two exceptional, protracted musical sequences. —Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2024

The famously slow brewing technique—essentially a precise and protracted pouring of hot water over fresh-ground coffee, to coax the most delicate flavors from a bean—is also maybe the last space reserved for humans in a coffee world increasingly filled with expensive machines. —Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 5 Sep. 2024

Similar to the debacle around Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, British fans complained of site crashes and several-hour-long queues, sometimes protracted when they were mistaken for bots and kicked out. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin prōtractus, past participle of prōtrahere "to drag forward, draw or pull out, bring into the open, prolong, defer," from prō-, prefix denoting forward movement + trahere "to drag, draw, take along" — more at pro- entry 2, abstract entry 1

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

protract

verb

pro·​tract prō-ˈtrakt 

: prolong

Medical Definition

protract

transitive verb

pro·​tract prō-ˈtrakt 

: to extend forward or outward

the mandible is protracted and retracted in chewing

compare retract