3 syllables: ex, tend, ing. Stress on tend.
ik-STEN-ding
/ɪkˈstɛndɪŋ/
extending is pronounced ik-STEN-ding (/ɪkˈstɛndɪŋ/). It has three syllables (ex-tend-ing), with the stress on "tend". Extending is the present participle or gerund form of extend, meaning to reach out, stretch, or lengthen something or to prolong a period or range. It conveys ongoing action or duration, as in making something larger or continuing beyond a limit. Used in formal and informal contexts to describe adding length, time, or scope.
Extending is the present participle or gerund form of extend, meaning to reach out, stretch, or lengthen something or to prolong a period or range. It conveys ongoing action or duration, as in making something larger or continuing beyond a limit. Used in formal and informal contexts to describe adding length, time, or scope.
"The company is extending its deadline by two weeks."
"She is extending her hand to greet the visitor."
"We’re extending the program to include more participants."
Pronounce as /ɪkˈstɛn.dɪŋ/ (US/UK) with stress on the second syllable: ek-STEND-ing. Start with a light /ɪ/ on the first syllable, then a clear /ˈstɛn/ with the /t/ realized as a crisp stop, followed by /dɪŋ/. The final -ing is a voiced velar nasal /ŋ/. Audio reference: imagine saying 'extend' but add the -ing suffix; the t-d sequence is often a rapid /t/ + /d/ blend in fluent speech.
Common errors include pronouncing the second syllable as /ɛ/ instead of /ɛn/ (ex-TE-nding), softening the /t/ into a flap /ɾ/ in rapid speech, and merging the final /ŋ/ with preceding consonants, producing /-n̩/ or creating a /ɪŋ/ drift. Correction: emphasize the /t/ as a true /t/ before the /ɛn/ vowel, keep the /d/ as a separate voiced stop before the final /ɪŋ/, and end with a clear /ŋ/ rather than a nasalized vowel.
In US and UK, stress remains on the second syllable /ˈstɛn/; US often has a slightly darker /ɪ/ in the first vowel and more pronounced rhoticity like /ɪkˈstɛn.dɪŋ/, while UK tends to a tighter /ɪ/ and clearer consonants. Australian pronunciation mirrors UK vowel quality but with Australian vowel shifts (e.g., /ɪ/ vs /ɛ/ slight). Overall: the sequence /kˈstɛn/ stays, but vowel qualities and syllable timing vary subtly by accent and rhythm.
The challenge lies in the consonant cluster after ex-: /kˈst/ and the t/d transition before the unstressed -ing. Many learners omit or weaken the /t/ or merge /t/ and /d/ into a flap. Additionally, starting with a short /ɪ/ or /ɪk/ and landing into /ˈstɛn/ requires precise tongue positioning, lip rounding, and timing to avoid a clipped or mis-stressed second syllable. Practicing the exact placement helps you sustain a natural flow.
There are no silent letters in extending; the word uses all letters. The primary nuance is the stress pattern: ex-TEND-ing places strong stress on the second syllable. Some speakers may reduce to ex- TÉN-ding in fast speech, but the standard is ex-TEND-ing with clear /ˈst/ cluster and a pronounced final -ing /ɪŋ/. Keep the junction between /t/ and /d/ crisp to avoid a swallowed stop.
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Extending derives from the verb extend, which comes from the Latin extendere, a combination of ex- (out) and tendere (to stretch, to strive). The English form extended into Old French as etendre and Middle English as extend, with the -ing participial suffix emerging in Middle English to mark ongoing action. The word’s core sense of “to stretch out” broadened post-15th century to include figurative senses like prolonging time, range, or influence. By Early Modern English, extending was used in legal and architectural contexts to describe enlarging a boundary or scope, then spreading to abstract uses (extending a deadline, extending a sequence). The development reflects the Latin roots’ emphasis on outward movement and expansion, with the participle affix serving to convert the verb into an action in progress. First known usage in English literature surfaces in Middle English drafting and legal documents, where extending a term or property line appeared repeatedly, later migrating into common prose and technical writing as a standard verb form.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "extending" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "extending" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "extending"
-ing sounds
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