elon·gate
i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt 
(ˌ)ē-,
ˈē-ˌlȯŋ-
elongated; elongating
: to extend the length of
: to grow in length
elongate
2 of 2variant of elongate entry 1
Did you know?
Elongate is often found in scientific writing, but the adjective elongated is more common, and frequently used to describe body parts in discussions of anatomy. This was even the case when the superhero Elongated Man made his appearance back in 1960. But some other characters with the same powers—Plastic Man, Elastic Lad, and Mr. Fantastic—ended up having longer careers.
Examples of elongate in a Sentence
Verb
These stretching exercises can help elongate your leg muscles.
New medical procedures have elongated the careers of many athletes.
the giraffe's elongate neck is thought to be the result of natural selection
Recent Examples on the Web
Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Their clean, high-shine build is one of Blahnik’s signatures, designed to elongate the line of the leg while keeping the silhouette pared back.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2025
The lariat is the sultry provocateur of the jewelry world, known for its ultra feminine design that elongates the neck and draws attention to the décolletage.
—Samantha Solomon, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2025
Also, the relaxed fit that tapers around the ankle offers a leg elongating look that’s perfect for petites.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elongate
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Verb
While Clarkson isn’t the first star to break out front-seam jeans — Joanna Gaines and Demi Moore have both taken the denim cut for a spin — her outfit reminded us of just how easily the style can take an outfit from average to awe-worthy (not to mention how great the cut is for elongating figures).
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Their clean, high-shine build is one of Blahnik’s signatures, designed to elongate the line of the leg while keeping the silhouette pared back.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2025
The lariat is the sultry provocateur of the jewelry world, known for its ultra feminine design that elongates the neck and draws attention to the décolletage.
—Samantha Solomon, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2025
Also, the relaxed fit that tapers around the ankle offers a leg elongating look that’s perfect for petites.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elongate
Cite this Entry
“Elongate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elongate. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
elongate
1 of 2 verb
elon·gate
i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt
elongated; elongating
: to make or grow longer
elongation
noun
(ˌ)ē-ˌlȯŋ-ˈgā-shən
elongate
2 of 2 adjective
variants
or elongated
i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt-əd
: stretched out
especially
: being much greater in length than in width
Medical Definition
elongate
1 of 2 verb
elon·gate
i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt
elongated; elongating
: to extend the length of
: to grow in length
elongate
2 of 2 adjective
variants
or elongated
: long in proportion to width
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