lengthen
To make something longer in duration or size
Examples
In a meeting
“We should lengthen the onboarding process to include more training days.”
Over coffee
“I need to lengthen my morning routine to fit in exercise.”
Why this word
extend
Lengthen specifically increases length or duration, extend can mean broadening scope or reach
stretch
Lengthen is making longer, stretch implies pulling or straining to make longer
expand
Lengthen is about linear extension, expand suggests growing in multiple dimensions
Usage tip
Use when extending time, duration, or physical length of something
Etymology
Old English lang (long) + -th + -en (verb suffix meaning to make)
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Related words
anticipate
To expect or predict something and prepare for it accordingly.
preempt
Take action to prevent something before it happens
adjourn
To pause or end a meeting with intention to resume later
proactive
Acting in advance to deal with expected situations
initiative
A new plan or action taken to achieve something
tentative
Not certain or fixed; provisional