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

If you multiply the two, you get an idea of the market’s price, or an individual stock’s price.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 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

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

Singly charged ions could escape, while multiply charged ions, which are often more biologically important, remained trapped.

From Science Daily • Mar. 25, 2026

But if I multiply five by one and then add in the three, I get eight.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

Related Words

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