Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined word in the given sentence.

His strategy is to protract negotiations until the enemy are exhausted while assembling the forces necessary to crush them.

Prolong

The most appropriate meaning of the underlined word protract in the given sentence is prolong.

• Protract means "to extend in time or duration; lengthen."
• Control means "to have power or authority over someone or something."
• Prolong means "to extend in time or duration; lengthen."
• Accept means "to receive something willingly or with approval."
• Cease means "to stop or bring to an end."