magnify

verb

mag·ni·fy | \ ˈmag-nə-ˌfī

magnified; magnifying

Definition of magnify

transitive verb

1a : extol, laud while they magnified the art, they often belittled the artist— Havelock Ellis

b : to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect

2a : to increase in significance : intensify real drama … will use ugliness to magnify beauty— Alan Mickle

b : exaggerate magnifies every minor issue to crisis proportions

3 : to enlarge in fact or in appearance The lens magnified the image 100 times.

intransitive verb

: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are a glass that magnifies greatly

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about magnify

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of magnify in a Sentence

The sound was magnified by the calm air. His failures have been magnified by the success of his friends. I don't want to magnify the importance of these problems. The lens magnified the image 100 times. a magnified view of the image

Recent Examples on the Web

Coca-Cola also has been benefiting from some successful currency hedges that are now rolling off, the company said, magnifying the currency impact on their latest financial results. — Aaron Back, WSJ, "Coke and Pepsi Leave Different Aftertastes," 15 Feb. 2019 The permanent nature of the web—where stories do not become tomorrow’s recycling—means that the volume of coverage on a subject can only increase, persistently magnifying any narrative that may have once come and gone. — Victoria Murphy, Town & Country, "How the Internet’s Obsession with the Royal Family Turned Toxic," 10 Feb. 2019 Dill said the emotional toll of these large-scale horrific events is magnified because everyone is talking about them. — Heidi De Marco, chicagotribune.com, "The other victims: first responders to horrific disasters often suffer in solitude," 13 July 2018 Also, growers should not spray plants with water, as droplets on leaves can magnify the sun’s intensity. — Sara Cardine, latimes.com, "Acres of historic camellias at Descanso Gardens scorched during weekend’s triple-digit heat," 12 July 2018 Because the Star magnifies the effects of natural selection, the scientists labeled it an amplifier. — John Rennie, WIRED, "This Mutation Math Shows How Life Keeps on Evolving," 1 July 2018 Mike, a tall man who keeps a smile on pilot-mode at all times, has glasses that magnify his dark eyes. — Jonathan Kauffman, SFChronicle.com, "Upon retiring, the story of the couple behind the Tenderloin’s most-loved deli," 28 June 2018 The selfishness or sort of underlying narcissism that lives in all of us to a certain extent seems so magnified in people that try to make things. — Alexandria Symonds, New York Times, "How Natasha Lyonne and Lizzi Bougatsos Became Best Friends," 26 June 2018 Representation in beauty and fashion is a topic that's been magnified in recent seasons, with consumers calling on brands for expanded foundation shade ranges and designers to be inclusive when casting models for runway shows. — Helena Yeung, Teen Vogue, "Tyra Banks Talks Modeling for Victoria's Secret and Finding Black Hairstylists," 10 Apr. 2018

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