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enlarge

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of enlarge

1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number

  • as the number of people with cell phones enlarges, more transmission towers will have to be built
Synonyms of enlarge

accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon (also bourgeon), climb, escalate, expand, gain, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax
Words Related to enlarge

jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge

heighten, intensify, redouble

blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up)

crescendo, crest, peak
Antonyms of enlarge

contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

2 to make greater in size, amount, or number

  • with a new member of the family on the way, maybe we should consider enlarging the house
Synonyms of enlarge

accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up, compound, escalate, expand, extend, hype, increase, multiply, pump up, raise, stoke, supersize, swell, up
Words Related to enlarge

boom, jump, skyrocket, spike

bump (up), ratchet (up) also rachet (up)

blow up, dilate, distend, inflate

draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch

develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify

complement, supplement

beef (up), reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen

maximize

accumulate, amass, collect

follow up, parlay
Near Antonyms of enlarge

abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten

compress, condense, constrict, contract

cut back, retrench
Antonyms of enlarge

abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)

3 to set free (as from slavery or confinement)

  • like a wild animal enlarged from a leghold trap, the freed prisoner raced about
Synonyms of enlarge

discharge, disenthrall (also disenthral), emancipate, enfranchise, free, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter
Words Related to enlarge

bail (out), deliver, parole, ransom, redeem, rescue, save

adrift, disembarrass, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, extricate

unshackle
Phrases Synonymous with enlarge

turn loose
Near Antonyms of enlarge

handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel

commit, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, lock (up)

conquer, enslave, subdue, subjugate
Antonyms of enlarge

bind, confine, enchain, fetter, restrain

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
    • 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

Learn More about enlarge

  1. See words that rhyme with enlarge Dictionary: Definition of enlarge Medical Dictionary: Definition of enlarge Spanish Central: Translation of enlarge Nglish: Translation of enlarge for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of enlarge for Arabic speakers

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