# prolong

> English word · Verb · IPA /pɹəʊˈlɒŋ/ · frequency rank #22,183

## Definitions
1. To extend in space or length.
2. To lengthen in time; to extend the duration of.
3. To put off to a distant time; to postpone.
4. To become longer; lengthen.

## Etymology
Either a back-formation from prolongation, or from Old French prolonguer or porloignier, from Latin prōlongō, from prō + longō. Doublet of purloin.

## Easily confused with
- **prong** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prolong-vs-prong)
- **proton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prolong-vs-proton)
- **proving** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prolong-vs-proving)
- **prowling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prolong-vs-prowling)
- **prolonged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prolong-vs-prolonged)
- **probing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/probing-vs-prolong)
- **pooling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pooling-vs-prolong)

## Common misspellings (11)
`porlong`, `pprolong`, `prloong`, `prollong`, `prolnog`, `prologn`, `prolongg`, `prolonng`, `proolng`, `prrolong`, `rpolong`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/prolong