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 The pitch has already been rolled for the next one to be enlarged to 64. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 July 2026 Rehabilitation phases would take 2 to 5 years, modernization up to 10 years, and expansion—which would include enlarging treatment facilities in major cities and providing for industry and agriculture—would take more than 10 years, Cueto said. — Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 Complications can include acne and similar skin problems, sleep apnea, skin reactions to patches or gels, steroid rage and emotional disorders, and enlarged breast tissue, according to StatPearls. — Mason Leib, ABC News, 17 July 2026 Originally built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC and later enlarged by the Romans, the theater stands among Sicily’s most iconic historic landmarks. — Dylan Jones, Robb Report, 16 July 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 kingdom has faced increasing attacks from the Houthis, who also declared a blockade on the al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea on July 20.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Nor would increased options out wide and a central defender, The Athletic revealing earlier this week that a couple of bids have been rejected for Norway international centre-back Henrik Falchener, 23, from that country’s Viking Stavanger.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of increase
Verb
  • Investors have increasingly scrutinized the chipmaker’s expanding financial ties with major AI customers.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • New business models such as Walmart supercenters, Costco warehouse clubs and Trader Joe’s specialty stores expanded the abundance further.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of expand
Verb
  • France had already been liberated, but Royan was said to be the site of a smattering of Third Reich dead-enders.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • For Russian propagandists, the Azov Brigade, which began as a nationalist militia, was shorthand for the supposedly fascist influences from which Vladimir Putin claimed to be liberating Ukraine.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of liberate
Verb
  • But after the single-component shots came into use, infections there began to rise.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • That was the evening Hilton, who rose to fame in the early 2000s as a celebrity gossip blogger, appeared to engage in self-harm during a livestream.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of rise
Verb
  • The Pole accelerated on the stage’s fourth ascent of the Col d’Eze, but couldn’t open a gap.
    — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Local residents said some drivers spend hours revving their engines and accelerating modified vehicles along Woodward Avenue.
    — Terell Bailey, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of accelerate
Verb
  • The result is a system that, in the long term, could carry out sub hunting autonomously, but in the short term acts as an onboard co-pilot, freeing up human operators while doubling sonobuoy processing capacity.
    — David Szondy August 12, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The film memorably told the story of a young boy who befriends and tries to free a killer whale who has been captured in the wild and is living in an aquarium.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of free
Verb
  • The man — holding one bladed weapon in each hand — responded by walking down 41st Avenue away from a growing mass of officers, which quickly swelled from just a couple to at least 10.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • As her pregnancy progressed, Kabita’s belly swelled while the rest of her remained gaunt.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of swell
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Ukraine has already augmented its air defenses around Odesa and other ports, with videos showing aircraft, including an F-16 and a Yak-52, shooting down Geran-4s.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • During the 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, an Ohio-class boat was called upon to augment B-2 bomber strikes.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of augment

Phrases Containing enlarge

Browse Nearby Words

enlacing
enlarge
enlarged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enlarge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlarge. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on enlarge

Nglish: Translation of enlarge for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All