extendable

UK: /ɪkˈstɛndəb^əl/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ex•tend /ɪkˈstɛnd/   v. 

1. to stretch or draw out or outward:
   [~ + object] I extended my leg.
2. to stretch forth;
   hold out;
   offer:
   [~ + object] to extend one's hand in greeting.
3. to make longer;
   lengthen [ ~ + obj]:
   The new section extended the highway.
   [no object]
   The road extends for another two miles.
4. to increase the duration or length of time (of);
   prolong: [~ + object]
   I wish they didn't have to extend their visit.
   [no object]
   Their visit extended another hour.
5. to enlarge the area, scope, or application of: [~ + object]
   The military powers extended their authority.
   [no object]
   Their authority extended into foreign countries.
6. to grant or offer:
   [~ + object] to extend aid to needy scholars.

See -tend-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ex•tend  (ik stend′), v.t. 

1. to stretch out;
   draw out to the full length:
   He extended the measuring tape as far as it would go.
2. to stretch, draw, or arrange in a given direction, or so as to reach a particular point, as a cord, wall, or line of troops.
3. to stretch forth or hold out, as the arm or hand:
   to extend one's hand in greeting.
4. to place at full length, esp. horizontally, as the body or limbs.
5. to increase the length or duration of;
   lengthen;
   prolong:
   to extend a visit.
6. to stretch out in various or all directions;
   expand;
   spread out in area:
   A huge tent was extended over the field.
7. to enlarge the scope of, or make more comprehensive, as operations, influence, or meaning:
   The European powers extended their authority in Asia.
8. to provide as an offer or grant;
   offer;
   grant;
   give:
   to extend aid to needy scholars.
9. Business [Finance.] to postpone (the payment of a debt) beyond the time originally agreed upon.
10. to increase the bulk or volume of, esp. by adding an inexpensive or plentiful substance.
11. Business [Bookkeeping.] to transfer (figures) from one column to another.
12. Law
    • [Brit.] to assess or value.
    • to make a seizure or levy upon, as land, by a writ of extent.
13. Sport [Manège.] to bring (a horse) into an extended attitude.
14. to exert (oneself ) to an unusual degree.
15. [Archaic.] to exaggerate.
16. [Obs.] to take by seizure.

v.i. 

17. to be or become extended;
    stretch out in length, duration, or in various or all directions.
18. to reach, as to a particular point.
19. to increase in length, area, scope, etc.
20. Sport [Manège.] (of a horse) to come into an extended attitude.

• Latin extendere to stretch out. See ex-¹, tend¹
• Middle English extenden 1250–1300

ex•tend′i•ble, ex•tend′a•ble, adj. 
ex•tend′i•bil′i•ty, ex•tend′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
Synonyms

• 5. continue. See lengthen. 
• 6. enlarge; widen, dilate.
• 8. bestow, impart.

Antonyms

• 1. shorten, contract.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

extend / ɪkˈstɛnd/ verb

1. to draw out or be drawn out; stretch
2. to last for a certain time
3. (intransitive) to reach a certain point in time or distance
4. (intransitive) to exist or occur
5. (transitive) to increase (a building, etc) in size or area; add to or enlarge
6. (transitive) to broaden the meaning or scope of: the law was extended
7. (transitive) to put forth, present, or offer
8. to stretch forth (an arm, etc)
9. (transitive) to lay out (a body) at full length
10. (transitive) to strain or exert (a person or animal) to the maximum
11. (transitive) to prolong (the time originally set) for payment of (a debt or loan), completion of (a task), etc

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin extendere to stretch out, from tendere to stretch

exˈtendible, exˈtendable adjective

exˌtendiˈbility, exˌtendaˈbility noun