Meaning of extend In English

• 0 to add to something in order to make it bigger or longer:

  • We have plans to extend our house (= to make it bigger).

  • The government has produced a series of leaflets designed to extend (= increase) public awareness of the dangers of AIDS.

  • We're planning to extend our publishing of children's books (= increase it).

  • The bar has recently extended its opening hours (= made them longer).

  • I need to extend my visa (= make it last longer).

• 1 to stretch something out:

  • We've extended a clothesline (= made it reach) between two trees in the garden.

  • He extended his hand as a greeting (= held out his hand for someone to shake it).

• 2 to reach, stretch, or continue:

  • The Sahara Desert extends for miles.

  • The path extends beyond the end of the road.

  • Rain is expected to extend to (= arrive in) all parts of the country by this evening.

  • The effects of this legislation will extend (= reach) further than the government intends.

• 3 to offer or give something to someone:

  • I should like to extend my thanks to you for your kindness.

  • The chairperson extended a warm welcome to the guest speaker.

  • The government is extending aid to people who have been affected by the earthquake.

  • [ + two objects ] The bank has agreed to extend us money/extend money to us (= lend us money) to buy our house.

• 4 to include or affect someone or something:

  • Parking restrictions do not extend to disabled people.

  • Her new-found tolerance does not extend to single mothers.

  • The invitation did not extend to family members.

• 5 to cause someone to use all their ability:

  • She feels that her job doesn't extend her enough.

• 6 to reach, continue, or stretch:

  • [ I ] Farmland extends for miles in every direction.

  • [ I ] The meeting extended into the late hours of the night.

  • [ T ] He extended his hand to greet me.

• 7 to add to something in order to make it longer; increase:

  • The store has recently extended its hours.

  • I might have extended this essay to include more information.

  • The proposed law would extend health insurance to all children.

• 8 to offer or give:

  • I would like to extend my thanks to everybody for making this evening a success.

  • We’d like to extend our condolences to the family.

• 9 to increase the period of time during which something is effective, or to last for a particular period of time:

  • At present they are only open four days a week but they plan to extend their hours.

  • extend an agreement/a contract/a deadline

  • extend sth from sth to sth Under the proposal the presidential term would be extended from five to six years.

  • extend into sth It looks as if the final talks will extend into June.

  • extend for sth Don't accept any loan that extends for more years than you plan to keep the car.

• 10 to give or offer something to someone:

  • extend benefits/coverage The proposal would extend medical insurance coverage to 95% of the population, including every child.

  • extend credit By buying and packaging mortgages, Wall Street enabled the lenders to extend credit even as the dangers grew in the housing market.

• 11 to increase the size or range of something:

  • The company's premises have been extended.

  • The company's own-label range has been extended to include a dining line.

  • The two educators are responsible for extending college business programs beyond the classroom.