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
Those opportunities and a play not made by Brooks Lee in the ninth inning were magnified in a close loss.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
But this year, those concerns have been magnified for a growing number of congressional Democrats as well as for constituents back at home.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
In Baltimore, where economic disparities are more acute, the consequences are magnified.
—Brian Walter, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2026
It's only magnified by the gleaming white-stone beach and aquamarine water outside.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for magnify
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Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
But this year, those concerns have been magnified for a growing number of congressional Democrats as well as for constituents back at home.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
In Baltimore, where economic disparities are more acute, the consequences are magnified.
—Brian Walter, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2026
It's only magnified by the gleaming white-stone beach and aquamarine water outside.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for magnify
Cite this Entry
“Magnify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnify. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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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