enlarge

verb en·large \ in-ˈlärj , en- \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

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

In the second episode, Day creates a new master suite, enlarging a tiny bathroom by tearing out a wall and moving a door.

— cynthia billhartz gregorian, kansascity, "Leawood mom's DIY Network 'Bargain Mansions' shows airing Saturday on HGTV | The Kansas City Star," 12 Apr. 2018
Buyers also have to contend with builders who snap up modest houses in cash deals, enlarging or replacing them with expensive properties.

— julie lasky, New York Times, "Syosset, N.Y.: Suburban Subdivisions and Wooded Hillsides," 11 Apr. 2018
Some companies, like Tauck, are actually decreasing the number of passengers on board and enlarging their suites, plus adding casual restaurants, a hint of what’s happening in the industry.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Take me to the river: The other (less blackjack, more bicycling) side of cruising," 8 Apr. 2018
Richards says size expansion is harder than just enlarging the original pattern.

— heather hansman, Outside Online, "Hey, Outdoor Industry: We Need Plus-Size Ski Gear," 26 Mar. 2018
When the little girl was 4, her aunt Meredith, who raised her from age 2 with the help of her grandmother Donna, noticed Kaylee's lymph nodes seemed enlarged.

— laura ungar, The Courier-Journal, "A serious liver ailment is stalking Kentucky's children. But they aren't getting care," 22 Mar. 2018
The American expats created just such a property in their adoptive city of London by buying a modest Edwardian house and then spending more than $1 million to enlarge and remodel it.

— wsj real estate, WSJ, "Billionaire Scion Seeks $58 Million for Unfinished Penthouse," 7 Mar. 2018
The emergency department was enlarged and a new third floor was added to the old two-story portion of the main hospital at South Tyler and 11th Avenue.

— kim chatelain, NOLA.com, "St. Tammany Parish Hospital expansion gaining steam," 21 Feb. 2018
Key features: Glamorous contemporary quad-level house on Wabeek Lake has been enlarged and remodeled with wide open spaces, exotic materials and dramatic interior architecture.

— judy rose, Detroit Free Press, "House Envy: Wabeek Lake home takes contemporary style to new heights," 21 Jan. 2018

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

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