enlarge

verb

en·​large in-ˈlärj 

en-

enlarged; enlarging

transitive verb

1

: to make larger : extend

enlarged the family fortune with new investments

2

: to give greater scope to : expand

education may enlarge one's view of the world

3

: to set free

enlarge a captive

intransitive verb

1

: to grow larger

2

: to speak or write at length : elaborate

let me enlarge upon that point

enlargeable

in-ˈlär-jə-bəl 

en-

adjective

enlarger noun

Synonyms

• accelerate
• accumulate
• appreciate
• balloon
• boom
• build up
• burgeon
• bourgeon
• climb
• escalate
• expand
• gain
• increase
• mount
• multiply
• mushroom
• proliferate
• rise
• roll up
• snowball
• spread
• swell
• wax

Choose the Right Synonym for enlarge

increase, enlarge, augment, multiply mean to make or become greater.

increase used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity

his waistline increased with age

; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition.

increased her landholdings

enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity.

enlarged the kitchen

augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed.

the inheritance augmented his fortune

multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process.

with each attempt the problems multiplied

Examples of enlarge in a Sentence

We had the photograph enlarged.

as the number of people with cell phones enlarges, more transmission towers will have to be built

Recent Examples on the Web

The beast’s skull was strange, too, having a long and low profile but bearing enlarged, tusk-like incisor teeth in both jaws. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025

What This Means Discovery of H5N1 in a sheep enlarges the list of nonbird animals now known to be susceptible to the virus. —Josh Fischman, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2025

Manchester City Premier League champions City are in the process of enlarging the North Stand of their Etihad Stadium to take capacity from 53,500 to 60,000. —Tom Burrows, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025

There was broad expectation of another run at enlarging Shasta Dam as well as rewriting the meticulous daily management of CVP pumping operations in the Delta. —Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enlarger, enlargir, from en- + large broad, large

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing enlarge

• enlarge on/upon

Rhymes for enlarge

• discharge
• litharge
• recharge
• surcharge
• barge
• charge
• large
• marge
• sarge
• targe
• overcharge

Kids Definition

enlarge

verb

en·​large in-ˈlärj 

enlarged; enlarging

1

: to make or grow larger : increase, expand

2

: to give more details : elaborate

enlarge on a story

enlarger noun

Medical Definition

enlarge

verb

en·​large in-ˈlärj 

enlarged; enlarging

transitive verb

: to make larger

intransitive verb

: to grow larger