Definitions
- Describing a process that is taking longer than expected or necessary. - Referring to a situation where someone is delaying or prolonging something intentionally. - Talking about a physical action of extending or stretching something out.
- Referring to the act of making something longer or larger in size or duration. - Describing a situation where someone is offering or providing something to someone else. - Talking about a physical action of stretching or reaching out something.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words involve the idea of making something longer or stretching it out.
- 2Both can be used in physical and non-physical contexts.
- 3Both can be used as verbs.
What is the difference?
- 1Intention: Protract implies a delay or prolongation, while extend implies an expansion or offering.
- 2Duration: Protract often refers to a process that is taking longer than necessary, while extend refers to a specific lengthening of time or space.
- 3Connotation: Protract has a negative connotation of unnecessary delay or prolongation, while extend has a positive connotation of generosity or expansion.
- 4Usage: Protract is less common and more formal than extend, which is more versatile and commonly used in everyday language.
- 5Physicality: Protract can also refer to a physical action of stretching something out, while extend is more commonly used in physical contexts.
Remember this!
Protract and extend are synonyms that both involve the idea of making something longer or stretching it out. However, the difference between them lies in their intention, duration, connotation, usage, and physicality. Protract implies a delay or prolongation, often with a negative connotation, while extend implies an expansion or offering, often with a positive connotation. Protract is less common and more formal than extend, which is more versatile and commonly used in everyday language.