enlarge
11 synonyms and 6 antonyms for enlarge, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To make something bigger, or to become bigger.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To make something bigger, or to become bigger.
“They enlarged the kitchen by knocking through into the dining room.”
Opposites
2. verb
To speak or write about a subject at greater length.
“The professor enlarged on his earlier point about climate policy.”
Opposites
How to use enlarge
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
enlarge a photo
enlarge on a point
enlarge the scope
Etymology
From Old French enlargier, from en- + large.
Full origin of enlarge →Frequently asked questions
What does “enlarge” mean?
The word “enlarge” means to make something bigger, or to become bigger. In plain terms, to make bigger, or to go into more detail about something.
How do you pronounce “enlarge”?
“Enlarge” is pronounced ihn-LAHJ (/ɪnˈlɑɹd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “enlarge” in a sentence?
Here is “enlarge” used in a sentence: “They enlarged the kitchen by knocking through into the dining room.”
What part of speech is “enlarge”?
“Enlarge” is a verb.
Where does the word “enlarge” come from?
The word “enlarge” comes from Old French. From Old French enlargier, from en- + large.
Is “enlarge” a common word?
“Enlarge” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “enlarge” have?
“Enlarge” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make something bigger, or to become bigger.
