as in to lengthen
to make longer
the highway project was protracted by years of litigation
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Recent Examples of protract
The program was made possible with a fast-acting First Emergency Response grant from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises in the UN.
—
Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
President Nixon’s behavior caused grave tensions between the three branches of government, but the buildup was protracted and gradual.
—Mattathias Schwartz, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) protracted and byzantine process for issuing Starship launch licenses to SpaceX, critical for Starship lunar lander development, is an example.
—John Kross, Space.com, 3 Feb. 2025
Lynch’s staging is, agonizingly at times, protracted.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protract
Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
President Nixon’s behavior caused grave tensions between the three branches of government, but the buildup was protracted and gradual.
—Mattathias Schwartz, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) protracted and byzantine process for issuing Starship launch licenses to SpaceX, critical for Starship lunar lander development, is an example.
—John Kross, Space.com, 3 Feb. 2025
Lynch’s staging is, agonizingly at times, protracted.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protract
Verb
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For Carpenter, the dress was lengthened to incorporate an elegant and dramatic train.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2025
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Their normal top-flight shot-distance average is from 15 metres but against Liverpool, that lengthens to 17.6m, which reduces the likelihood of scoring.—
Chris Waugh,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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There’s no shortage of electrified cargo bikes on the market these days, but one trend that is definitely on the rise is the addition of a second (or even third) battery to extend the range of these quiet, clean urban haulers.—
William Roberson,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
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The Iranian regime spent decades building the Axis of Resistance, a coalition of anti-Western militias that extended Tehran’s influence deep into the Arab world.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The current de facto Moroccan sovereignty only prolongs Sahrawis’ exile, and an escalation would carry steep costs for all sides.—
Hannah Rae Armstrong,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Measles cases have risen in recent years, with 285 US cases reported last year, the most since 2019 when prolonged outbreaks among under vaccinated communities in New York threatened elimination status, according to the CDC.—
Nadia Kounang,
CNN,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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China is facilitating this by strengthening cooperation with Russia on research and commercial activities, as well as by increasing China's national icebreaker capacity.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
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Accordingly, with no viable domestic production alternative, prices for end-users would increase.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The waistband is made from an elastic that stretches to move with you.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
24 Feb. 2025
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But first and foremost, Fonda is a longtime political activist, stretching from her work speaking out against the Vietnam War to her fight for women's rights, civil rights, and climate change awareness.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Protract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protract. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.
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