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

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

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

The habit of enlarging your perspective on a regular basis has cumulative effects that develop muscle memory to dwarf professional letdowns. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024

The exhibition continually plays upon vacillations between intimacy and exposure, with one of the Torso prints of black and white buttocks enlarged and sprawling down the length of one gallery. —Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024

Realizing that dream will take more research that seeks out the evolutionary secrets of critters far smaller than us, and thereby enlarges our world. —quantamagazine.org, 30 Sep. 2024

Harris is performing the same trick of combining the narrative of saving-our-democracy with protecting and enlarging upon our freedoms. —Richard Stengel, TIME, 17 Aug. 2024

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

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