magnify
verb
mag·ni·fy
ˈmag-nə-ˌfī 
magnified; magnifying
1
2
a
: to increase in significance : intensify
… real drama … will use ugliness to magnify beauty …—
Alan Mickle
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.
: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are
a glass that magnifies greatly
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
Detentions based on evolving evidence are not unusual, but publicizing them can magnify missteps that would otherwise not garner as much attention.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 15 Dec. 2025
For women, the long-term fallout of an early-in-life heart attack is also magnified.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 15 Dec. 2025
But the errors were magnified because of the turnovers from the quarterback position.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 14 Dec. 2025
Their mistakes are magnified, and their second chances are fewer.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for magnify
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Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 15 Dec. 2025
For women, the long-term fallout of an early-in-life heart attack is also magnified.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 15 Dec. 2025
But the errors were magnified because of the turnovers from the quarterback position.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 14 Dec. 2025
Their mistakes are magnified, and their second chances are fewer.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for magnify
Cite this Entry
“Magnify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnify. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
magnify
verb
mag·ni·fy
ˈmag-nə-ˌfī
magnified; magnifying
2
a
: to increase in importance
b
3
: to enlarge in fact or in appearance
a microscope magnifies an object seen through it
magnifier
noun
-ˌfī(-ə)r
Medical Definition
magnify
verb
mag·ni·fy
ˈmag-nə-ˌfī
magnified; magnifying
: to enlarge in appearance
: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are
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