magnify
verb
mag·ni·fy
ˈmag-nə-ˌfī 
magnified; magnifying
1
2
a
: to increase in significance : intensify
… real drama … will use ugliness to magnify beauty …—
Alan Mickle
Alan Mickle
b
: exaggerate
magnifies every minor issue to crisis proportions
3
: to enlarge in fact or in appearance
The lens magnified the image 100 times.
: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are
a glass that magnifies greatly
Examples of magnify in a Sentence
The sound was magnified by the calm air.
His failures have been magnified by the success of his friends.
I don't want to magnify the importance of these problems.
The lens magnified the image 100 times.
a magnified view of the image
Recent Examples on the Web
McKay admired how Greenberg, who has devoted his life to drawing attention to the climate crisis, has used every platform at his disposal to magnify the stakes of global warming.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 15 June 2026
Nearly 25% of parents who track their adult children said the monitoring could sometimes magnify their apprehensions rather than give them reassurance, according to the poll.
—Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Use it to make your next barbecue rub or rim the glass of a Margarita, and see how even a small dose can magnify the sweetness of fresh watermelon.
—Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2026
The oil-free cream formula is anchored by spherical particles that absorb and refract light to blur dark spots, redness, and uneven texture without emphasizing the lines and pores that heavier concealers tend to magnify.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for magnify
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Brent Lang, Variety, 15 June 2026
Nearly 25% of parents who track their adult children said the monitoring could sometimes magnify their apprehensions rather than give them reassurance, according to the poll.
—Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Use it to make your next barbecue rub or rim the glass of a Margarita, and see how even a small dose can magnify the sweetness of fresh watermelon.
—Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2026
The oil-free cream formula is anchored by spherical particles that absorb and refract light to blur dark spots, redness, and uneven texture without emphasizing the lines and pores that heavier concealers tend to magnify.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for magnify
Cite this Entry
“Magnify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnify. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
magnify
verb
mag·ni·fy
ˈmag-nə-ˌfī
magnified; magnifying
2
a
: to increase in importance
b
3
: to enlarge in fact or in appearance
a microscope magnifies an object seen through it
magnifier
noun
-ˌfī(-ə)r
Medical Definition
magnify
verb
mag·ni·fy
ˈmag-nə-ˌfī
magnified; magnifying
: to enlarge in appearance
: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are
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