What does prolong mean?
Prolong means to make something last longer or extend its duration. It is commonly used for processes, discussions, legal proceedings, lives, waiting periods, and situations whose continuation may be inconvenient or difficult. The word has a formal, measured tone and can carry the implication of delay, as in “prolong the agony,” while still allowing a neutral sense, as in “prolong the life of a useful device.” Prolong usually concerns time rather than physical length, making it distinct from verbs such as lengthen when describing an object’s dimensions. It is widely understood in British and American English, with the same basic meaning across both varieties. The word’s Latin roots, pro- and longus, provide a useful mnemonic: prolong literally points toward making something “long” in duration.
verbTo make something last for a longer time or extend its duration. By extension, to delay or postpone something.
- To make something continue for a longer period of time.
- To delay or postpone something.
"The additional paperwork could prolong the approval process indefinitely."
"Careful planning helped prolong the life of the old bridge."
"The negotiations continued through the night, prolonging the uncertainty for investors."
Prolong comes from Latin pro- (“forward”) and longus (“long”), the same root that connects it with words such as longitude and elongate.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prolong come from?
Prolong comes from Latin prolongāre, formed from pro- (“forward”) and longus (“long”). English adopted the word in the late Middle English period through Old French, from the same Latin source. Related English words such as longitude, elongate, and longitudinal ultimately share the Latin root longus, while cognates survive in French prolonger, Spanish prolongar, and Italian prolungare.
Related word forms
How prolong is actually used
Prolong is formal to neutral and is especially common in legal, medical, academic, and technical contexts. It often suggests that something continues longer than desirable, although it can also neutrally describe extending useful time.
Easily confused with prolong
Prolong is a verb meaning to extend the duration of something, whereas a prologue is an introductory section of a literary, dramatic, or spoken work.