enlarge
Americanverb (used with object)
-
enlarges,
present (3rd person singular)
-
enlarged,
past participle, past
-
enlarging
present participle
-
to make larger; increase in extent, bulk, or quantity; add to.
They enlarged the house by adding an east wing.
- Antonyms:
- diminish
-
to increase the capacity or scope of; expand.
We've decided to enlarge the company.
- Antonyms:
- contract
-
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)
-
enlarges,
present (3rd person singular)
-
enlarged,
past participle, past
-
enlarging
present participle
-
to grow larger; increase; expand.
-
to speak or write at large; expatiate.
to enlarge upon a point.
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)
Usage
What are other ways to say enlarge?
To enlarge something is to make it larger or to add to it. How does enlarge differ from increase and augment? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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enlargednessnoun
-
reenlargeverb
-
preenlargeverb (used with object)
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enlargeableadjective
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unenlargedadjective
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unenlargingadjective
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enlargedlyadverb
-
enlarginglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
enlargesimple
-
enlargessimple
-
have enlargedperfect
-
has enlargedperfect
-
am enlargingprogressive
-
are enlargingprogressive
-
is enlargingprogressive
-
have been enlargingperfect progressive
-
has been enlargingperfect progressive
Past
-
enlargedsimple
-
had enlargedperfect
-
was enlargingprogressive
-
were enlargingprogressive
-
had been enlargingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of enlarge
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English enlargen, from Old French enlargir, enlarger. See en- 1, large
Explanation
When you enlarge something, you make it bigger. If you build a huge addition on the side of your house, you enlarge it. You can enlarge a sand castle by dumping another bucket of sand on it, or enlarge your hairdo by curling and teasing it. When a photographer enlarges a photograph, she blows it up, or prints a much larger copy of it, and you can also enlarge an idea, or someone's understanding of it, by clarifying or explaining it. The Old French root of enlarge is enlargier, "to widen, increase, or make larger."
Vocabulary lists containing enlarge
myPerspectives 7.3
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: en-, em-
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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.
See Examples For:
At the township’s land use board meeting earlier this month, Trump’s lawyers and planners asked for waivers to enlarge the main building on the property from 26,000 square feet to 54,000 square feet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
Their stretched proportions reminded the scientists of Luffy's rubber body, which allows the fictional character to freely extend and enlarge his limbs.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026
Adenomyosis, is a condition often compared to endometriosis and occurs when where endometrial-like tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, causing it to thicken and enlarge.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
Allison Febbo, general manager of Westlands Water District, said the plan to enlarge Shasta Dam “represents an important step toward advancing a long-overdue investment in water supply reliability.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026
He and Douglas Moore had always intended to enlarge their direct-action protests to include other cities and states, but neither of them had set an official starting date.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
The perspective suddenly enlarges as William launches an invasion fleet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
In his office, the commanding officer enlarges an image showing a swarm of speedboats carrying out such an attack.
From Barron's ● May 1, 2026
Far from distorting democracy, this diversity of substantial support often enlarges the range of ideas in public debate.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 24, 2026
"Being part of Nato brings us on an equal footing with all the other allies. It enlarges the possibilities for Finnish companies in the defence sector and beyond."
From BBC ● Mar. 5, 2025
The cell enlarges, begins making new DNA at a great rate, and turns into what is termed, appropriately, a blast.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
As they grew older, veterinarians also identified abnormalities in their eye structures and an enlarged aorta, the body's main artery.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
He clutched a photo of his late wife that had been enlarged for the television cameras.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026
Last year, it sold businesses in Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama to Banco Davivienda in exchange for a 20% stake in the enlarged Colombian lender.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Artwork by his son Naviyd is featured on the walls, while an enlarged drawing of a tattoo that Usher has on his chin has been turned into a decorative ceiling mural.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
The enlarged fairy blinked in astonishment, then glided high into the air.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
Constructing an accurate, full-scale replica involves far more than enlarging a drawing or arranging generic bones into a dramatic pose.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026
Today, Philly Shipyard is central to President Trump’s goal of reviving American shipbuilding and enlarging the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026
In any case, fielding them would mean replacing the existing weapons, not enlarging the arsenal’s size.
From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2025
Biden has designated six monuments and expanded four, including enlarging the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument near Los Angeles by nearly a third earlier this year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2024
Swaying with exhaustion, Torak finished enlarging the snow cave, and walled up the entrance again, leaving a gap at the top to let out the smoke from the fire he’d promised himself.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
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