Synonyms

multiply

¹ American

[muhl-tuh-plahy] / ˈmʌl təˌplaɪ /

verb (used with object)

to make many or manifold; increase the number, quantity, etc., of.
Arithmetic. to find the product of by multiplication.
to breed (animals).
to propagate (plants).
to increase by procreation.

verb (used without object)

to grow in number, quantity, etc.; increase.

Synonyms:

mushroom, grow, proliferate
Arithmetic. to perform the process of multiplication.
to increase in number by procreation or natural generation.

multiply ² American

[muhl-tuh-plee] / ˈmʌl tə pli /

adverb

in several or many ways; in a multiple manner; manifoldly.

multiply British

/ ˈmʌltɪˌplaɪ /

verb

to increase or cause to increase in number, quantity, or degree
(tr) to combine (two numbers or quantities) by multiplication
(intr) to increase in number by reproduction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

multiply Scientific

/ mŭl′tə-plī′ /

To perform multiplication on a pair of quantities.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of multiply¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English multiplien, from Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicāre; see multi-, ply ²

Origin of multiply²

First recorded in 1880–85; multiple + -ly

Explanation

When you multiply two numbers, you increase the first by the same number that's specified by the second. In other words, when you multiply two by three, you add together three twos. When you're doing simple math problems, you can multiply by memorizing lists of times tables — or you can add one number as many times as the second number: four times two is the same as two fours, or eight. Another way to multiply is simply to increase or expand greatly: "If the diner starts serving homemade pie, their profits will multiply." The Latin root is multiplicare, "to increase," from multiplex, "having many folds."

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Vocabulary lists containing multiply

Ratios and Proportional Relationships

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Number and Operations: Fractions

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Operations and Algebraic Thinking

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Perhaps you can see how the metaphors between the backrooms and the internet itself multiply from here: Like the backrooms, one can lose oneself forever in the internet.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026

In a shared account, common enough between partners or in small businesses, the risks multiply.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

Think Alex Ferguson ranting about west-coast bias in the 1980s, multiply it by 10 and you're in the right territory.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

In others who have previously been infected, immunosuppression can allow the virus to reactivate and multiply.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

Flustered by the photographer prowling around adjusting his lens, Gordon began to read, “Mice are rodents. They gnaw things and they multiply rapidly.”

From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023