| Main Entry: | protract |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | extend, draw out |
Synonyms: |
continue, cool*, defer, delay, drag on, drag out, draw, elongate, hold off, hold up, keep going, lengthen, pad, postpone, procrastinate, prolong, prolongate, put off, put on hold, spin out, stall, stretch, stretch out |
Antonyms: |
abbreviate, curtail, shorten |
| Main Entry: | defer |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold off, put off |
Synonyms: |
adjourn, block, delay, detain, extend, give rain check, hang fire, hinder, hold up, impede, intermit, lay over, lengthen, obstruct, postpone, procrastinate, prolong, prorogue, protract, put on back burner, put on hold, put on ice, remit, retard, set aside, shelve, slow, stall, stay, suspend, table, waive |
Antonyms: |
advance, expedite, forge, forward, hasten, hurry |
| Main Entry: | delay |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cause stop in action |
Synonyms: |
adjourn, arrest, bar, bide time, block, check, choke, clog, confine, curb, dawdle, defer, detain, deter, dilly-dally, discourage, drag, encumber, filibuster, gain time, hamper, hold, hold over, impede, inhibit, interfere, intermit, keep, keep back, lag, lay over, linger, loiter, obstruct, postpone, prevent, procrastinate, prolong, prorogue, protract, put off, remand, repress, restrict, retard, shelve, slacken, stall, stave off, stay, suspend, table, tarry, temporize, withhold |
| Notes: | various things may cause a delay, but a postponement will result from the action of a person |
Antonyms: |
advance, dispatch, expedite, further, hasten, hurry, rush, speed |
| Main Entry: | dilate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | stretch, widen |
Synonyms: |
amplify, augment, be profuse, be prolix, broaden, develop, distend, enlarge, expand, expatiate, expound, extend, increase, inflate, lengthen, prolong, protract, puff out, spin off, swell |
Antonyms: |
compress, constrict, contract, lessen, reduce |
| Main Entry: | drag on/drag out |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | extend time of action |
Synonyms: |
continue, draw out, endure, extend, go on slowly, keep going, lengthen, persist, prolong, protract, spin out, stretch out |
Antonyms: |
complete |
| Main Entry: | drawl |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | lengthen, draw out |
Synonyms: |
chant, drag out, drone, extend, intone, nasalize, prolong, pronounce slowly, protract, utter |
Antonyms: |
clip, shorten |
| Main Entry: | draw out |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | prolong |
Synonyms: |
attract, continue, drag, drag out, elongate, extend, lead on, lengthen, make longer, prolongate, protract, pull, spin, spin out, stretch, string out, tug |
Antonyms: |
clip, shorten |
| Main Entry: | elongate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make longer |
Synonyms: |
drag one's feet, drag out, draw, draw out, extend, fill, lengthen, let out, pad, prolong, prolongate, protract, put rubber in, spin out, stretch |
Antonyms: |
constrict, contract, shorten |
| Main Entry: | expand |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | extend, augment |
Synonyms: |
aggrandize, amplify, beef up, bloat, blow up, bolster, broaden, bulk up, burgeon, detail, develop, diffuse, dilate, distend, elaborate, embellish, enlarge, explicate, fan out, fatten, fill out, grow, heighten, hike, increase, inflate, lengthen, magnify, mount, multiply, mushroom, open, open out, outspread, pad, piggyback, prolong, protract, puff up, pyramid, slap on, soup up, spread, spread out, stretch, stretch out, swell, tack on, thicken, unfold, unfurl, unravel, unroll, upsurge, wax, widen |
Antonyms: |
abbreviate, contract, lessen, lower, shorten, shrink |
| Main Entry: | extend |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make larger, longer |
Synonyms: |
add to, aggrandize, amplify, augment, beef up, boost, broaden, carry on, continue, crane, develop, dilate, drag one's feet, drag out, draw, draw out, elongate, enhance, enlarge, expand, fan out, go on, heighten, increase, last, lengthen, let out, magnify, mantle, multiply, open, pad, prolong, prolongate, protract, run on, spin out, spread, spread out, stall, stretch, string out, supplement, take, unfold, unfurl, unroll, widen |
Antonyms: |
abridge, condense, contract, curtail, cut, decrease, lessen, lower, shorten, shrink |