aggrandize

[ uh-gran-dahyz, ag-ruhn-dahyz ]

/ əˈgræn daɪz, ˈæg rənˌdaɪz /

verb (used with object), ag·gran·dized, ag·gran·diz·ing.

to widen in scope; increase in size or intensity; enlarge; extend.

to make great or greater in power, wealth, rank, or honor.

to make (something) appear greater.

Nearby words

Also especially British, ag·gran·dise.

Origin of aggrandize

1625–35; < French aggrandiss- (long stem of aggrandir to magnify), equivalent to ag- ag- + grand (see grand) + -iss -ish², irregular equated with -ize

SYNONYMS FOR aggrandize

2 inflate, strengthen, exalt.

3 magnify.

ANTONYMS FOR aggrandize

1 reduce.

2 diminish.

3 minimize.

Related formsag·gran·dize·ment

[uh-gran-diz-muhnt] /əˈgræn dɪz mənt/, nounag·gran·diz·er

[uh-gran-dahy-zer, ag-ruhndahy-] /əˈgræn daɪ zər, ˈægˌrəndaɪ-/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for aggrandise

He is not painting pictures to aggrandise himself, he is only lovingly recording what he knows, feels, or hopes.
Giotto|Harry Quilter
This species of feudality is kept up to aggrandise the corporations at the ruin of towns; and the effect is visible.
The Writings of Thomas Paine, Volume II|Thomas Paine
But these use them for the benefit of others and not to aggrandise themselves.
A Son of Perdition|Fergus Hume
It is easier to ruin a kingdom and aggrandise one's own pride and prejudices than to set up a greengrocer's stall.
Table-Talk|William Hazlitt

It extorts exorbitant revenues from this city to aggrandise other portions of the State.
Satan's Invisible World Displayed or, Despairing Democracy|W. T. Stead

British Dictionary definitions for aggrandise

aggrandize

aggrandise

/ (ˈæɡrənˌdaɪz, əˈɡrænˌdaɪz) /

verb (tr)

to increase the power, wealth, prestige, scope, etc, of

to cause (something) to seem greater; magnify; exaggerate

Derived Formsaggrandizement or aggrandisement (əˈɡrændɪzmənt), nounaggrandizer or aggrandiser, noun

Word Origin for aggrandize

C17: from Old French aggrandiss-, long stem of aggrandir to make bigger, from Latin grandis grand; the ending -ize is due to the influence of verbs ending in -ise, -ize

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

Word Origin and History for aggrandise

aggrandize

1630s, "to make larger, increase," from French agrandiss-, present participle stem of agrandir "to augment" (16c.), ultimately from Latin ad "to" (see ad-) + grandire "to make great," from grandis (see grand (adj.)). The double -g- spelling in English is by analogy with Latin words in ad-. Related: Aggrandized; aggrandizing.