extend

/ɛkˈstɛnd/

//ɛkˈstɛnd// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"extend" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“extend” has 9 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #4,016. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#4,016
frequency rank, English
2,246
“E” headwords
9
tracked misspellings
9
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To increase in extent.

Corpus desk

Index EN-extend · extend · English

extend · rank #4,016 · 9 variants · 9 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #4,016
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-MID 9 pairs
  • VAR-MID 9 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,246
  • PHOTO-FINISH ease

Nearest frequency peer: ease (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “extend”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “extend” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

extend vs extent
83% similar
extend vs extends
86% similar
extend vs extended
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for extend
PropertyValue
Headwordextend
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɛkˈstɛnd/
Letters6
Frequency rank#4,016
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs9
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “extend”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).extendlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “ease” (#4,015), “fame” (#4,017), “flood” (#4,018). Among 2,246 “E” headwords, “extend” is #4,016. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 9 spelling variants around extend (IPA /ɛkˈstɛnd/), averb. Corpus frequency is #4,016 among 2,246 “E” headwords. Wiktionary lists 10 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for extend, with forms such as "etxend", "exetnd", and "extedn". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 9 confusable-pair relationships, "extent", "extends", "extended", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English extenden, from Anglo-Norman extendre, estendre, from Latin extendō (“to stretch out”). The correct English form is extend, spelled E-X-T-E-N-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    To increase in extent.
  2. 2
    To possess a certain extent; to cover an amount of space.
  3. 3
    To cause to increase in extent.
  4. 4
    To cause to last for a longer period of time.
  5. 5
    To straighten (a limb).
  6. 6
    To bestow; to offer; to impart; to apply.
  7. 7
    To increase in quantity by weakening or adulterating additions.
  8. 8
    To value, as lands taken by a writ of extent in satisfaction of a debt; to assign by writ of extent.
  9. 9
    Of a class: to be an extension or subtype of, or to be based on, a prototype or a more abstract class.
  10. 10
    To reenlist for a further period.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how extend appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. The desert extended for miles in all directions.
  2. Szechuan extends from the Wushan Mountains in the east to the Chinsha River — the upper reaches of the Yangtse — in the west.

Etymology

From Middle English extenden, from Anglo-Norman extendre, estendre, from Latin extendō (“to stretch out”).

Synonyms

enlargeexpandincreaselengthenstretchwiden

This word in other languages

extenderse(Español)étendre(Français)erweitern(Deutsch)estender(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • etxend
  • exetnd
  • extedn
  • extendd
  • extennd
  • extned
  • exttend
  • exxtend
  • xetend

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of extend - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

etxend2exetnd2extedn2extendd1extennd1extned2exttend1exxtend1
Edit distance from "extend"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "extend"?
"extend" is spelled E-X-T-E-N-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ɛkˈstɛnd/.
What does "extend" mean?
As a verb, "extend" means: To increase in extent.
What words are commonly confused with "extend"?
"extend" is commonly confused with "extent", "extends", "extended". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "extend"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "extend" is /ɛkˈstɛnd/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "extend"?
From Middle English extenden, from Anglo-Norman extendre, estendre, from Latin extendō (“to stretch out”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "extend", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

occurs#4,034wishes#3,994voices#3,993virgin#3,992

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (9 here; floor ≥5).

glasses9 variantstwelve9 variantstheater9 variantsranked9 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list