Meaning & use

magnify

verb·Academic

To make something appear larger than it actually is, especially using a lens.

See it in a sentence

The scientist used a lens to magnify the tiny insect for closer study.

Her anxiety tended to magnify small problems until they felt overwhelming and unmanageable.

A note on using this word

Magnify can describe physical enlargement through optics or the exaggeration of a feeling, problem, or importance.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

minimizeshrink

Make it your own

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