extend

The word “extend” means to make something longer, larger, or last for more time. In plain terms, to make something bigger, longer, or to reach out and offer it.

“Extend” is pronounced ehk-STEHND (/ɛkˈstɛnd/ in IPA).

Here is “extend” used in a sentence: “The council decided to extend the library's opening hours.”

Words with a similar meaning to “extend” include enlarge, expand, increase, lengthen, stretch and widen.

“Extend” is a verb.

The word “extend” comes from Latin. From Latin extendere, "to stretch out" — from ex- ("out") plus tendere ("to stretch").

“Extend” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Extend” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make something longer, larger, or last for more time.

To extend is to make something longer, larger, or last for more time, often along a single dimension such as length or duration. To expand is to make something larger in overall size or volume, spreading outward in all directions, so a deadline is extended while a business expands.

'Extend' is a verb meaning to make something longer, larger, or last longer. 'Extent' is a noun meaning the degree or range of something, as in 'the extent of the damage'; the two are easily confused but never interchangeable.

Both can mean to make something last longer, but 'extend' applies broadly to length, size, or time, while 'prolong' refers specifically to duration and often to drawing something out longer than wanted. You extend a fence, but you prolong an argument.

Use 'extend to' when describing how far something reaches, as in 'the road extends to the coast'. Use 'extend for' when describing a length or period, as in 'the delay extended for three hours'.