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” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,016 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#4,016
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
9
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To increase in extent.

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)

Where “extend” sits in English frequency

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

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for extend is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɛkˈstɛnd/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,016 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

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.

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.

Using “extend”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-X-T-E-N-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɛkˈstɛnd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “extent” - see the side-by-side comparison. extend vs extent
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list