prolongieren

Prolongieren is a verb used in German to describe the act of making something last longer or extending it in time. It denotes an increase in duration or the continuation of a process, action, or term beyond its original end. The term is more common in formal, technical, or legal contexts, while everyday language often prefers synonyms such as verlängern or ausdehnen.

Etymology and forms: Prolongieren is a loanword derived from the English or French structures around prolongation or prolonger, rooted in Latin concepts of length. The corresponding noun forms are Prolongierung or Prolongation, with Prolongierung more typical in German-language writing. In everyday usage, German writers often opt for Verlängerung or Verlängerung der Frist, depending on the context.

Contexts and usage: In contracts, leases, or deadlines, prolongieren can appear in formal texts to indicate extending the term or deadline. For example, one might say that the contract was prolongiert or that a deadline was prolongiert, though verlängert or Fristverlängerung are more common in ordinary speech. In scientific or technical writing, prolongieren may describe extending the duration of a treatment, observation period, or experimental run. In sports journalism, the standard term for extending play is usually Verlängerung rather than Prolongierung, making prolongieren relatively rare in this domain.

See also: Verlängerung, Fristverlängerung, Prolongation.

Examples: The contract was prolongiert to cover an additional year. The researcher sought to prolongieren die Beobachtungsphase to gather more data. The medication’s effect can be prolongiert with a slower-release formulation.