magnify

8 synonyms and 7 antonyms for magnify, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To make something look bigger, usually with a lens, microscope, or similar device.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

enlarge

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

exaggerate amplify blow up overdraw overstate hyperbolize hyperbolise

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To make something look bigger, usually with a lens, microscope, or similar device.

“The telescope magnifies distant stars so they appear brighter and closer.”

enlarge exaggerate amplify blow up overdraw overstate hyperbolize hyperbolise

Opposites

minify

2. verb

To make a problem, feeling, or effect bigger or more intense than it really is.

“Stress tends to magnify small annoyances into major arguments.”

Opposites

abate reduce diminish

3. verb

To praise or glorify, especially in religious language.

“"My soul doth magnify the Lord" is a well-known line from scripture.”

Opposites

deprecate decry derogate

How to use magnify

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

magnify an image magnify the problem magnify the effect

Etymology

From Latin magnificare, "to make great", from magnificus, "doing great things".

Full origin of magnify →

Frequently asked questions

What does “magnify” mean?

The word “magnify” means to make something look bigger, usually with a lens, microscope, or similar device. In plain terms, to make something appear or feel bigger — either literally through a lens, or emotionally by exaggerating it.

How do you pronounce “magnify”?

“Magnify” is pronounced MAGNIH-feye (/ˈmæɡnɪfaɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “magnify” in a sentence?

Here is “magnify” used in a sentence: “Use the app to magnify the text if it's too small to read.”

What part of speech is “magnify”?

“Magnify” is a verb.

Where does the word “magnify” come from?

The word “magnify” comes from Latin. From Latin magnificare, "to make great", from magnificus, "doing great things".

How many meanings does “magnify” have?

“Magnify” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make something look bigger, usually with a lens, microscope, or similar device.

Related words

minify

People also searched

reduce diminish enlarge exaggerate amplify overdraw deprecate decry derogate overstate abate hyperbolize

Nearby words

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