enlarge

[en-lahrj]

See more synonyms for enlarge on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), en·larged, en·larg·ing.

to make larger; increase in extent, bulk, or quantity; add to: They enlarged the house by adding an east wing.
to increase the capacity or scope of; expand: We've decided to enlarge the company.
to make (a photographic print) larger than the negative by projecting the negative's image through a lens onto photographic printing paper.

verb (used without object), en·larged, en·larg·ing.

to grow larger; increase; expand.
to speak or write at large; expatiate: to enlarge upon a point.

Origin of enlarge

1350–1400; Middle English enlargen < Old French enlargir, enlarger. See en-¹, large

Related formsen·large·a·ble, adjectiveen·larg·ed·ly

[en-lahr-jid-lee, -lahrjd-] /ɛnˈlɑr dʒɪd li, -ˈlɑrdʒd-/, adverben·larg·ed·ness, nounen·larg·ing·ly, adverbpre·en·large, verb (used with object), pre·en·larged, pre·en·larg·ing.re·en·large, verb, re·en·larged, re·en·larg·ing.un·en·larged, adjectiveun·en·larg·ing, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for enlarge on Thesaurus.com

1. extend, magnify, amplify, dilate. See increase.

Antonyms

1. diminish. 2. contract.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for enlarge

Contemporary Examples

The Great Society is a place where every child can find knowledge to enrich his mind and to enlarge his talents.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society
Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch
January 4, 2015
Find a lonely voice and enlarge its significance—“one expert thinks there are no true human tails.”
The Crazy Way Creationists Try To Explain Human Tails Without Evolution
Karl W. Giberson
June 1, 2014
There are no elections this year so, so for the moment the government does not need to enlarge its popular base.
Venezuela’s Agony: Weak President, Strong Generals, Riots and Cocaine
Marcel Ventura
April 14, 2014
Economists should therefore help to enlarge the time horizon, as a contribution to the public good.
America's Investment Crisis
Jeffrey Sachs
October 7, 2010
Click the Image Below to Enlarge a Screengrab of Huma Mian's profile on social-networking site Orkut.com.
The Would-Be Bomber's Wife
Asra Q. Nomani
May 6, 2010

Historical Examples

Travel, says she—enlarge your mind—why, how big would she have it?
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
I shall not enlarge on this, since most of us are in a position to enlarge on it for ourselves.
The Conquest of Fear
Basil King
The Viceroy, constrained to enlarge him, allotted the town for his place of confinement.
The History of Louisiana
Le Page Du Pratz
You tell me we ought to enlarge our sphere of sensation, and to extend the sources of happiness.
Imogen
William Godwin
On this part of the subject, however, I must not enlarge at present.
Modern Painters Volume I (of V)
John Ruskin

British Dictionary definitions for enlarge

enlarge

verb

to make or grow larger in size, scope, etc; increase or expand
(tr) to make (a photographic print) of a larger size than the negative
(intr; foll by on or upon) to speak or write (about) in greater detail; expatiate (on)

Derived Formsenlargeable, adjective

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 enlarge

v.

mid-14c., "grow fat, increase;" c.1400, "make larger," from Old French enlargier "to make large," from en- "make, put in" (see en- (1)) + large (see large). Related: Enlarged; enlarging.

enlarge

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}enlarge

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples from the Web for enlarge

Contemporary Examples

The Great Society is a place where every child can find knowledge to enrich his mind and to enlarge his talents.

Find a lonely voice and enlarge its significance—“one expert thinks there are no true human tails.”

There are no elections this year so, so for the moment the government does not need to enlarge its popular base.

Economists should therefore help to enlarge the time horizon, as a contribution to the public good.

Click the Image Below to Enlarge a Screengrab of Huma Mian's profile on social-networking site Orkut.com.

Historical Examples

Travel, says she—enlarge your mind—why, how big would she have it?

I shall not enlarge on this, since most of us are in a position to enlarge on it for ourselves.

The Viceroy, constrained to enlarge him, allotted the town for his place of confinement.

You tell me we ought to enlarge our sphere of sensation, and to extend the sources of happiness.

On this part of the subject, however, I must not enlarge at present.

enlarge

Word Origin and History for enlarge

v.

Origin of enlarge