enlarge

verb

en·​large in-ˈlärj 

en-

enlarged; enlarging

transitive verb

1

: to make larger : extend

enlarged the family fortune with new investments

2

: to give greater scope to : expand

education may enlarge one's view of the world

3

: to set free

enlarge a captive

intransitive verb

1

: to grow larger

2

: to speak or write at length : elaborate

let me enlarge upon that point

enlargeable

in-ˈlär-jə-bəl 

en-

adjective

enlarger noun

Synonyms of enlarge

• increase
• expand
• rise
• accelerate
• swell

Choose the Right Synonym for enlarge

increase, enlarge, augment, multiply mean to make or become greater.

increase used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity

his waistline increased with age

; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition.

increased her landholdings

enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity.

enlarged the kitchen

augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed.

the inheritance augmented his fortune

multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process.

with each attempt the problems multiplied

Examples of enlarge in a Sentence

We had the photograph enlarged.

as the number of people with cell phones enlarges, more transmission towers will have to be built

Recent Examples on the Web

Ralph later renovated the property by raising the roofline and enlarging the terraces and windows to better frame the water views. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 May 2026

During that period, the team renovated and enlarged many of the rooms. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 22 May 2026

The company is enlarging the dimensions of the search box to expand and better accommodate the natural language queries that users can now make with AI. —Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 19 May 2026

Because when an encounter — with a lover, a friend, a stranger or a new film by Ryusuke Hamaguchi — takes you to a place that transforms you, enlarges you and heals the hairline cracks where all the hope keeps leaking out, there is no such thing as too long spent there. —Jessica Kiang, Variety, 15 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enlarger, enlargir, from en- + large broad, large

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing enlarge

• enlarge on/upon

Rhymes for enlarge

• discharge
• litharge
• recharge
• surcharge
• barge
• charge
• large
• marge
• sarge
• targe
• overcharge

Kids Definition

enlarge

verb

en·​large in-ˈlärj 

enlarged; enlarging

1

: to make or grow larger : increase, expand

2

: to give more details : elaborate

enlarge on a story

enlarger noun

Medical Definition

enlarge

verb

en·​large in-ˈlärj 

enlarged; enlarging

transitive verb

: to make larger

intransitive verb

: to grow larger