protract
verb
pro·tract
prō-ˈtrakt 
prə-
protracted; protracting; protracts
1
: to prolong in time or space : continue
2
: to extend forward or outward compare retract sense 1
Synonyms
Examples of protract in a Sentence
the highway project was protracted by years of litigation
Recent Examples on the Web
The deal caps a tumultuous and protracted saga that began in December, with the two companies entering into exclusive negotiations in April, resulting in the ouster of longtime Paramount chief executive Bob Bakish.
—
Jon Passantino, CNN, 8 July 2024
This process is bound to be contentious and protracted as Trump and the Special Counsel’s Office are likely to have very different answers to those questions.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 2 July 2024
In Orange County, which faced a fierce and protracted labor battle this past year, some teachers are upset after receiving a school district email Wednesday suggesting a 1% raise might be what’s offered to them for the coming school year.
—Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2024
Hamas is now waging a guerrilla war, involving ambushes and improvised bombs (often made from unexploded ordnance or captured IDF weapons), protracted operations that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s national security adviser recently said could last through the end of 2024 at least.
—Robert A. Pape, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for protract 
Jon Passantino, CNN, 8 July 2024
This process is bound to be contentious and protracted as Trump and the Special Counsel’s Office are likely to have very different answers to those questions.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 2 July 2024
In Orange County, which faced a fierce and protracted labor battle this past year, some teachers are upset after receiving a school district email Wednesday suggesting a 1% raise might be what’s offered to them for the coming school year.
—Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2024
Hamas is now waging a guerrilla war, involving ambushes and improvised bombs (often made from unexploded ordnance or captured IDF weapons), protracted operations that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s national security adviser recently said could last through the end of 2024 at least.
—Robert A. Pape, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for protract
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'protract.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near protract
Cite this Entry
“Protract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/protract. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
protract
verb
pro·tract
prō-ˈtrakt
: prolong
Medical Definition
protract
transitive verb
pro·tract
prō-ˈtrakt
: to extend forward or outward
the mandible is protracted and retracted in chewing
compare retract
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