Protracted: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Protracted adjective. Lasting much longer than expected or than usual.
How to say it
pruh-TRAK-tid/prəˈtraktɪd/
3 syllables, stressed on the second (TRAK).
Protracted in a sentence
After protracted talks, the two sides finally agreed a pay deal.
Their protracted goodbye on the doorstep took twenty minutes.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- prolonged
- lengthy
- drawn-out
- extended
Opposite:
- brief
- short
Where protracted comes from
From Latin protrahere, to draw out.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Their _____ goodbye on the doorstep took twenty minutes.
- protracted
- hebdomadal
- contemporary
Show the answer
protracted: Their protracted goodbye on the doorstep took twenty minutes.