multiply

¹ American  

[muhl-tuh-plahy] / ˈmʌl təˌplaɪ /

verb (used with object)

multiplied, multiplying

1. to make many or manifold; increase the number, quantity, etc., of.

2. Arithmetic. to find the product of by multiplication.

3. to breed (animals).

4. to propagate (plants).

5. to increase by procreation.

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verb (used without object)

multiplied, multiplying

1. to grow in number, quantity, etc.; increase.

   Synonyms:

   mushroom, grow, proliferate

2. Arithmetic. to perform the process of multiplication.

3. to increase in number by procreation or natural generation.

multiply ² American  

[muhl-tuh-plee] / ˈmʌl tə pli /

adverb

1. in several or many ways; in a multiple manner; manifoldly.

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multiply British  

/ ˈmʌltɪˌplaɪ /

verb

1. to increase or cause to increase in number, quantity, or degree

2. (tr) to combine (two numbers or quantities) by multiplication

3. (intr) to increase in number by reproduction

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multiply Scientific  

/ mŭl′tə-plī′ /

1. To perform multiplication on a pair of quantities.

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Other Word Forms

• multipliable
  adjective
• self-multiplied
  adjective
• self-multiplying
  adjective
• unmultiplied
  adjective
• unmultiplying
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of multiply¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English multiplien, from Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicāre; see multi-, ply ²

Origin of multiply²

First recorded in 1880–85; multiple + -ly

Explanation

When you multiply two numbers, you increase the first by the same number that's specified by the second. In other words, when you multiply two by three, you add together three twos. When you're doing simple math problems, you can multiply by memorizing lists of times tables — or you can add one number as many times as the second number: four times two is the same as two fours, or eight. Another way to multiply is simply to increase or expand greatly: "If the diner starts serving homemade pie, their profits will multiply." The Latin root is multiplicare, "to increase," from multiplex, "having many folds."

Example Sentences

Those earnings are expected to multiply 10 times over two years through August 2027 amid shortages and fierce demand from artificial-intelligence data centers.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

Your 20s are an incredibly important time to save because of all the time your investments have to compound — that is, multiply.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

In others who have previously been infected, immunosuppression can allow the virus to reactivate and multiply.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

Continuing from State Route 58, we joined State Route 41, watched oak trees and vineyards pop up and multiply, continued into Paso Robles and spent the night.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

I stop brushing and multiply twenty-four times six in my head using the process Samantha taught me.

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass

Related Words

• accumulate
• augment
• boost
• breed
• build up
• enlarge
• expand
• generate
• heighten
• magnify
• proliferate
• propagate
• spread