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
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
Even in healthy partnerships, this bias can lead us to magnify minor annoyances, overlook acts of kindness and misinterpret our partner’s intentions.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
More from Personal Finance: Stock volatility poses an ‘opportunity,’ investment analyst says
What financial advisors tell investors about market turmoil
Consumer outlook sinks as recession fears take hold
Over time, the inequality is magnified.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025
These disparities are often magnified in underserved communities—particularly those with limited access to preventive care and screenings.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
The European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope has just magnified our view of the universe with the release of its first wave of survey data, capturing hundreds of thousands of galaxies in remarkable detail.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for magnify
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Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
More from Personal Finance: Stock volatility poses an ‘opportunity,’ investment analyst says
What financial advisors tell investors about market turmoil
Consumer outlook sinks as recession fears take hold
Over time, the inequality is magnified.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025
These disparities are often magnified in underserved communities—particularly those with limited access to preventive care and screenings.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
The European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope has just magnified our view of the universe with the release of its first wave of survey data, capturing hundreds of thousands of galaxies in remarkable detail.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for magnify
Cite this Entry
“Magnify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnify. Accessed 2 Apr. 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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