magnify
verb
mag·ni·fy ˈmag-nə-ˌfī 
magnified; magnifying
transitive verb
1
a
: extol, laud
while they magnified the art, they often belittled the artist
Havelock Ellis
Havelock Ellis b
: to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect
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.
intransitive verb
: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are
a glass that magnifies greatly
Synonyms
- color
- elaborate (on)
- embellish
- embroider
- exaggerate
- hyperbolize
- pad
- stretch
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 The digitized world is full of connected pathways that help magnify varying actions and extract valuable nuggets to nurture positive experiences. Sandeep Kumar, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 While vaccine misinformation and disinformation often take on localized contexts, anti-vaccine movements have effectively used social media to magnify their messaging across borders and communities. Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2021 There's also an option to magnify an area on screen with the stylus, which can be a useful feature. Scott Kramer, Forbes, 1 July 2022 But reviewing the deal's terms, and especially how its LBO-like leverage could magnify returns to equity holders, provides some hints. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 May 2022 This was a good example of something called the spotlight effect, which is a tendency to magnify and misjudge the amount of attention your behavior attracts from other people. Melody Wilding, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 The goal is that the new location will help magnify the brand in the global market, which the company’s CEO thinks will eventually be about 90 percent of Dassai’s business. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 1 Aug. 2022 This massive galaxy cluster is known because of the foreground clusters that magnify and distort light behind them. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 10 July 2022 Webb will also show us a galaxy cluster known as SMACS 0723, where galaxies distort and magnify the light emanating from other objects behind them, a cosmic quirk that allows telescopes to spot very distant and faint galaxies farther out. Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 8 July 2022 See More
Sandeep Kumar, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 While vaccine misinformation and disinformation often take on localized contexts, anti-vaccine movements have effectively used social media to magnify their messaging across borders and communities. Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2021 There's also an option to magnify an area on screen with the stylus, which can be a useful feature. Scott Kramer, Forbes, 1 July 2022 But reviewing the deal's terms, and especially how its LBO-like leverage could magnify returns to equity holders, provides some hints. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 May 2022 This was a good example of something called the spotlight effect, which is a tendency to magnify and misjudge the amount of attention your behavior attracts from other people. Melody Wilding, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 The goal is that the new location will help magnify the brand in the global market, which the company’s CEO thinks will eventually be about 90 percent of Dassai’s business. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 1 Aug. 2022 This massive galaxy cluster is known because of the foreground clusters that magnify and distort light behind them. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 10 July 2022 Webb will also show us a galaxy cluster known as SMACS 0723, where galaxies distort and magnify the light emanating from other objects behind them, a cosmic quirk that allows telescopes to spot very distant and faint galaxies farther out. Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 8 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English magnifien, from Anglo-French magnifier, from Latin magnificare, from magnificus
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Kids Definition
magnify
verb
mag·ni·fy ˈmag-nə-ˌfī
magnified; magnifying
1
: to enlarge in fact or appearance
A microscope magnifies an object seen through it.
2
: to cause to seem greater or more important : exaggerate
The problem has been magnified by rumors.
Medical Definition
magnify
verb
mag·ni·fy ˈmag-nə-ˌfī
magnified; magnifying
transitive verb
: to enlarge in appearance
intransitive verb
: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are
magnifying
verb
1
as in exaggerating
to add to the interest of by including made-up details there's no need to magnify the events of your trip in order to make it seem impressive Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- exaggerating
- enhancing
- padding
- coloring
- expanding
- hyperbolizing
- embellishing
- embroidering
- amplifying
- stretching
- satirizing
- emphasizing
- overemphasizing
- stressing
- overdoing
- overstating
- overplaying
- elaborating (on)
- overdrawing
- hedging
- caricaturing
- gussying up
- fudging
- playing up
- enlarging (on or upon)
- fleshing (out)
- dressing up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- minimizing
- understating
- belittling
- playing down
2
as in elevating
to assign a high status or value to his newfound fame as an actor has finally magnified him in the eyes of his perennially doubting family Synonyms & Similar Words
- elevating
- exalting
- lifting
- aggrandizing
- promoting
- enshrining
- glorifying
- deifying
- boosting
- ennobling
- enthroning
- heightening
- raising
- dignifying
- canonizing
- intensifying
- upgrading
- praising
- honoring
- uplifting
- enskying
- extolling
- sanitizing
- lauding
- acclaiming
- romanticizing
- idealizing
- sugarcoating
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- minimizing
- degrading
- humiliating
- detracting
- humbling
- depreciating
- decrying
- belittling
- demeaning
- disparaging
- abasing
3
as in intensifying
to make markedly greater in measure or degree the movie's sound effects magnify every crash and boom in the action scenes Synonyms & Similar Words
- intensifying
- enhancing
- deepening
- heightening
- strengthening
- consolidating
- amplifying
- reinforcing
- accentuating
- broadening
- boosting
- sharpening
- redoubling
- expanding
- enlarging
- emphasizing
- augmenting
- stepping up
- lengthening
- maximizing
- extending
- supplementing
- enforcing
- accelerating
- stressing
- beefing (up)
- hastening
- amping (up)
- quickening
- reenforcing
- exacerbating
- enlivening
- aggravating
- restrengthening
- pointing (up)
- jazzing (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reducing
- diminishing
- decreasing
- moderating
- weakening
- lessening
- abating
- subduing
- receding
- dwindling
- waning
- alleviating
- subsiding
- tapering (off)
- lightening
- toning (down)
- easing
- letting up (on)
4
as in blessing
to proclaim the glory of imposing cathedrals that were built to magnify the Lord and to inspire awe in worshippers Synonyms & Similar Words
- blessing
- praising
- celebrating
- exalting
- extolling
- hymning
- worshipping
- worshiping
- lauding
- emblazoning
- saluting
- glorifying
- applauding
- complimenting
- resounding
- cheering
- commending
- idolizing
- hailing
- carolling
- acclaiming
- caroling
- deifying
- chanting
- citing
- belauding
- eulogizing
- adoring
- renowning
- rhapsodizing
- flattering
- recommending
- touting
- cracking up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- blaming
- criticizing
- censuring
- reproving
- admonishing
- reprobating
- rebuking
- chiding
- reprimanding
- reproaching
- reprehending
- castigating
- lambasting
- keelhauling