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embiggen

American  
[em-big-uhn] / ɛmˈbɪg ən /

verb (used with or without object)

Informal: Often Facetious.
  1. to make or become bigger.

    You can spot my sister if you embiggen the photo.


Etymology

Origin of embiggen

First recorded in 1880–85 as an example of a barbarism; made popular in 1996 in an episode of the TV show The Simpsons; em- 1 ( def. ) + big 1 ( def. ) + -en 1 ( def. )


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.

See Examples For:

But unlike comics Kamala, who develops the power to embiggen parts of her body through the Inhuman terrigenesis process, Ms. Marvel’s Kamala’s abilities are apparently more cosmic in nature and involve her making energy constructs.

From The Verge ● Mar. 15, 2022

It’s unclear when they plan to embiggen the database once again.

From Fox News ● Mar. 11, 2021

Marvel Comics, whose character Ms Marvel has the power to embiggen herself, also tweeted about the addition to the dictionary.

From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2018

His is a noble spirit that could embiggen the smallest soul, and I know a great deal more about quartzite than I did before.

From Slate ● Sep. 26, 2016

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