enlarge

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verb en·large \ in-ˈlärj , en- \

Definition of enlarge

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

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enlargeable

play \in-ˈlär-jə-bəl, en-\ adjective

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enlarger

noun

See enlarge defined for English-language learners

See enlarge defined for kids

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 of enlarge from the Web

Obama then enlarged the Pacific Remote Islands site to nearly six times its original size in late 2014, to its current 490,000 square miles (Greenwire, Sept. 25, 2014).

— jennifer yachnin, Science | AAAS, "Trump team nears decision on national monuments," 18 Aug. 2017
Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are capillaries that are enlarged or deformed and thin-walled, making them vulnerable to leaks — which can lead to stroke or seizure.

— lacy schley, Discover Magazine, "Biological Building Blocks," 7 Aug. 2017
For that, the company offers two options: finishing the jail with 1,608 beds for $269 million, or enlarging it to 2,200 beds for $317.6 million.

— katrease stafford, Detroit Free Press, "Would Gilbert's jail deal be a fair deal?," 30 June 2017
It could be related to allergies or structural abnormalities such as nasal polyps or enlarged adenoids, which are lymphoid tissues behind the nose.

— cincinnati enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "How to fix common sleep problems," 26 June 2017
With the NHL’s uniform switch to Adidas, the Panthers tweaked their jerseys a bit by enlarging the logo crest on the front.

— george richards, miamiherald, "Florida Panthers lose not one, but two scorers to the Vegas Golden Knights," 21 June 2017
In 2018-19, a full-time middle school teacher position will be eliminated, saving $146,700 but enlarging class sizes from 23 to 24.

— kevin kelly, The Mercury News, "Schools’ budget balanced for next 4 years, Menlo Park district says," 14 June 2017
Edgewood Middle School would be enlarged to serve fifth and sixth graders in one section and seventh and eighth grade students in another.

— karen berkowitz, chicagotribune.com, "Wide range of reorganization options presented to Dist. 112 community members," 13 June 2017
Some monuments also have been scaled down, or enlarged, over the years by presidential orders or by Congress, but no president has ever attempted to eliminate his predecessor’s monument decisions.

— andrew o'reilly, Fox News, "Trump’s Interior Department kicks off battle to shrink national monuments," 13 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enlarge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of enlarge

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

enlarge Synonyms

Synonyms

accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon (also bourgeon), climb, increase, escalate, expand, gain, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax

Antonyms

contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

Related Words

jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge; heighten, intensify, redouble; blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up); crescendo, crest, peak

Near Antonyms

abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten; compress, condense, constrict, contract; cut back, retrench

Synonym Discussion of 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

ENLARGE Defined for English Language Learners

enlarge

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verb

Definition of enlarge for English Language Learners

: to make (something) larger or to become larger

ENLARGE Defined for Kids

enlarge

play

verb en·large \ in-ˈlärj \

Definition of enlarge for Students

enlarged; enlarging

:to make or grow larger :expand

Medical Dictionary

enlarge

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verb en·large \ in-ˈlärj \

medical Definition of enlarge

enlarged; enlarging

transitive verb

:to make larger

intransitive verb

:to grow larger

Learn More about enlarge

See words that rhyme with enlarge Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for enlarge Spanish Central: Translation of enlarge Nglish: Translation of enlarge for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of enlarge for Arabic speakers

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Definition of enlarge

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Origin and Etymology of enlarge

enlarge Synonyms

Synonyms

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Synonym Discussion of enlarge

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ENLARGE Defined for English Language Learners

enlarge

Definition of enlarge for English Language Learners

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enlarge

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