magnify

[mag-nuh-fahy]

verb (used with object)

magnified, magnifying 

1. to increase the apparent size of, as a lens does.

   Antonyms: reduce

2. to make greater in actual size; enlarge.

   to magnify a drawing in preparing for a fresco.

   Synonyms: amplify, increase, augment
   Antonyms: reduce

3. to cause to seem greater or more important; attribute too much importance to; exaggerate.

   to magnify one's difficulties.

   Synonyms: overstate
   Antonyms: minimize

4. to make more exciting; intensify; dramatize; heighten.

   The playwright magnified the conflict to get her point across.

5. Archaic.,  to extol; praise.

   to magnify the Lord.

verb (used without object)

magnified, magnifying 

1. to increase or be able to increase the apparent or actual size of an object.

magnify

/ ˈmæɡnɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to increase, cause to increase, or be increased in apparent size, as through the action of a lens, microscope, etc

2. to exaggerate or become exaggerated in importance

   don't magnify your troubles

3. rare,  (tr) to increase in actual size

4. archaic,  (tr) to glorify

Other Word Forms

• magnifiable adjective
• overmagnify verb (used with object)
• remagnify verb (used with object)
• unmagnified adjective
• unmagnifying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnify¹

1350–1400; Middle English magnifien < Latin magnificāre. See magni-, -fy

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnify¹

C14: via Old French from Latin magnificāre to praise; see _magnific

Example Sentences

In such an environment, the risks of any disaster are magnified: When people live so close together, a fire can spread quickly and affect thousands at once.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Investors on both Wall Street and Main Street have borrowed heavily to magnify market bets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

However, Penelope felt him watching her with a strange intensity, rendered all the stranger by the way his thick glasses magnified his eyes.

Read more on Literature

In Janus materials, the strong coupling between layers magnifies this effect, allowing even extremely small forces to produce measurable strain.

Read more on Science Daily

And secondly, on emphasis, they insist they hadn't expected so much talk about Wes Streeting, which was then massively magnified by all those interviews he was booked in to do on Wednesday morning.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• aggravate 
• amplify 
• deepen 
• enhance 
• heighten 
• inflate 
• multiply