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

agglutinin, agglutinogen, agglutinophilic, agglutogen, aggrade, aggrandize, aggrandizement, aggravate, aggravated, aggravated trespass, aggravating

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 forms

ag·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 Forms

aggrandizement 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