enlarge

verb

in-ˈlärj How to pronounce enlarge (audio)
Definition of enlargenext
1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number as the number of people with cell phones enlarges, more transmission towers will have to be built

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to expand
to make greater in size, amount, or number with a new member of the family on the way, maybe we should consider enlarging the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to liberate
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) like a wild animal enlarged from a leghold trap, the freed prisoner raced about

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb enlarge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of enlarge are augment, increase, and multiply. While all these words mean "to make or become greater," enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity.

enlarged the kitchen

In what contexts can augment take the place of enlarge?

Although the words augment and enlarge have much in common, augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed.

the inheritance augmented his fortune

When might increase be a better fit than enlarge?

The words increase and enlarge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, increase used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition.

his waistline increased with age
increased her landholdings

Where would multiply be a reasonable alternative to enlarge?

While in some cases nearly identical to enlarge, multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process.

with each attempt the problems multiplied

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of enlarge With each emergency, laws were enacted, bureaus created, budgets enlarged, and civil liberties restricted. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 1 July 2026 Attention, for Weil and for Murdoch, is a way of enlarging one’s desire for good. — Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 Layer wall paint and textiles such as curtains, rugs, and bedding in similar tones to enlarge a smaller bedroom. — Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 29 June 2026 Gravitational lensing occurs when a large galaxy in the foreground of an observation enlarges a distant galaxy behind it, acting like a cosmic magnifying glass. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for enlarge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlarge
  1. increase
  2. expand
  3. liberate
  4. rise
  5. accelerate
  6. free
  7. swell
  8. augment
Verb
  • The airport says arrivals to Denver are also delayed an average of 15 minutes and increasing due to the weather.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Earlier this year, Republicans had hoped to campaign on falling rates and a bipartisan bill to increase home construction to help defend their House and Senate majorities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of increase
Verb
  • In the mid-1960s, the festival expanded from an intimate get-together among church members to a cultural exchange for the greater Sacramento community.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • San Gregorio State Beach is now roughly twice its size after expanding into the formerly private ranch, San Gregorio Ranch.
    — Sooji Nam, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of expand
Verb
  • Personal revelations feel liberating under the Aquarius full moon.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • Indeed, by then, the hypnotic spell had been cast across all of Europe, including on those liberated from the drab tyrannies of actually existing socialism.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
Definition of liberate
Verb
  • As tensions rise with the Sacramento County Office of Education, Sacramento City Unified is pressing ahead with a new fiscal sustainability plan aimed at avoiding insolvency and preserving local control.
    — Chaewon Chung July 30, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
  • Ajanel is now a rising junior at Dalton State College pursuing a career in nursing.
    — Nila Roper, AJC.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of rise
Verb
  • While PennDOT already has created over 30 wildlife crossings, the establishment of the new cohesive group of state agency stakeholders is likely to accelerate building the safe animal passageways and reverse the high collision rate with motorists.
    — Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Campbell said some people use BPC-157 in combination with another peptide known as TB-500 to accelerate healing.
    — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Definition of accelerate
Verb
  • Better yet, the chairs tuck neatly beneath the table when playtime is over, freeing up valuable floor space when a blanket fort is suddenly requested.
    — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 31 July 2026
  • The aim of integrating AI into businesses is to boost productivity and free up resources for higher-order strategic thinking.
    — Ipsita Mohanty, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of free
Verb
  • As passengers chanted the incantation together, white light flashed through the carriage, and music swelled from the speakers.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • Wasp activity starts to ramp up in late summer and fall as colony sizes swell.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 29 July 2026
Definition of swell
Verb
  • The better question is whether a decision should be automated, augmented or left to human judgment.
    — Pooya Tabesh, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
  • Its recruit and redeploy stages require roles decomposed into explicit tasks—making what AI can augment answerable task by task.
    — Manu Khetan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of augment

Phrases Containing enlarge

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enlacing
enlarge
enlarged
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Cite this Entry

“Enlarge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlarge. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of enlarge for Spanish Speakers

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