magnify
verb
mag·ni·fy
ˈmag-nə-ˌfī 
magnified; magnifying
1
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.
: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are
a glass that magnifies greatly
Synonyms
Examples of magnify in a Sentence
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
But a week after the fire, many who had deep ties to the community were stuck in a state of suspension, magnified by the inability to return to the scene to survey the aftermath and map out their next steps.
—Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
With voting open for the next five days, every twist, turn, and headline in the awards race will be magnified in what’s shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Jan. 2025
Light is bent from an object behind it into circular rings or arcs, both revealing the existence of something in the background and, crucially, magnifying it by factors of hundreds or even thousands.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
The Future of Farming Farmers in India are facing a financial crisis, magnified by debt, lengthy supply chains, and natural disasters.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for magnify 
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Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
With voting open for the next five days, every twist, turn, and headline in the awards race will be magnified in what’s shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Jan. 2025
Light is bent from an object behind it into circular rings or arcs, both revealing the existence of something in the background and, crucially, magnifying it by factors of hundreds or even thousands.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
The Future of Farming Farmers in India are facing a financial crisis, magnified by debt, lengthy supply chains, and natural disasters.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for magnify
Dictionary Entries Near magnify
Cite this Entry
“Magnify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnify. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
magnify
verb
mag·ni·fy
ˈmag-nə-ˌfī
magnified; magnifying
2
a
: to increase in importance
b
3
: to enlarge in fact or in appearance
a microscope magnifies an object seen through it
magnifier
noun
-ˌfī(-ə)r
Medical Definition
magnify
verb
mag·ni·fy
ˈmag-nə-ˌfī
magnified; magnifying
: to enlarge in appearance
: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are
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