How to Use lengthen in a Sentence

lengthen

verb
  • The days lengthened with the approach of spring.
  • Proper care will lengthen the life of the engine.
  • These are great for those who want to lengthen or change the shape of their nails.
    — Elizabeth Denton, Allure, 31 Mar. 2022
  • Her end goal is to lengthen human lives.
    — Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
  • But gorging on pollen alone wasn’t enough to lengthen a life.
    — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
  • Arms lengthen from the back with fingers that grow along with them.
    — Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2018
  • As the days lengthen again in spring, the bulbs will start to enlarge.
    — Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 29 Sep. 2022
  • To lengthen its life span, take care when putting it up and storing it.
    — Discover Magazine, 9 Dec. 2023
  • Breathing through your nose can lengthen the breaths.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 23 Feb. 2026
  • This stuff lengthens nicely and holds a curl with the jaws of life, too.
    — Devon Abelman, Allure, 11 Sep. 2018
  • Inhale and sit up straight to lengthen spine through the crown of your head.
    — Lauren Bedosky, Health.com, 13 Dec. 2019
  • Her fangs protrude, her nails lengthen.
    — Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
  • Put your feet together and lengthen your legs in front of you.
    — Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 9 Oct. 2024
  • Tarell Basham raised his arms to lengthen his frame up the middle.
    — Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, 21 Sep. 2021
  • The project will lengthen and widen the northbound ramp at the exit.
    — oregonlive, 29 July 2022
  • An amendment could be made to lengthen the time down the line, if needed.
    — Erik S. Hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 27 June 2018
  • It’s helped grow the bare spots in my eyebrows and lengthened my lashes.
    — Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2024
  • It’s helped grow the bare spots in my eyebrows and lengthened my lashes.
    — Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
  • It’s helped grow the bare spots in my eyebrows and lengthened my lashes.
    — Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2024
  • Even as the climate has warmed, their ski season has lengthened.
    — The Economist, 25 Jan. 2018
  • And over the years a stream of drugs has improved treatment and lengthened lives.
    — CBS News, 4 June 2017
  • Chewing raw plants and sinewy meats both strengthened and lengthened the jaw.
    — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
  • Winter will pass, the days will lengthen, the ice will melt in the pasture pond.
    — Kate Dicamillo, Time, 12 Jan. 2018
  • Winter will pass, the days will lengthen, the ice will melt in the pasture pond.
    — Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2022
  • And his deal, which was set to expire at the end of next season, has been lengthened.
    — SI.com, 15 Mar. 2018
  • The slim toe lengthens the leg, while the open heel keeps the outfit from looking heavy.
    — Alex Sales, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Once some of the speedsters start to wilt in the heat, this one should be lengthening his stride.
    — courant.com, 19 July 2019
  • Rather, just hang them up to air out—which will likely lengthen the life of the garment, too.
    — Amy Marturana, SELF, 24 May 2019
  • At some point his stride lengthens, brisk, impatient.
    — Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
  • The other is the bears’ lengthening year.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lengthen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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