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
This doesn’t have to sever your friendship, but keeping your thoughts inside will only magnify them.
—R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 10 July 2024
The White House is bracing for every potential flub or misstatement to be magnified by the press.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 9 July 2024
Any verbal slip up or awkward interaction will be magnified at the NATO summit, putting more pressure on Biden to appear energetic and avoid mistakes.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 9 July 2024
In reports from Gallup's December 2023 poll, nearly half of U.S. adults, upwards of 45%, reported frequently feeling stress, and this is undoubtedly magnified in the workplace.
—Finnian Kelly, TIME, 8 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for magnify 
R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 10 July 2024
The White House is bracing for every potential flub or misstatement to be magnified by the press.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 9 July 2024
Any verbal slip up or awkward interaction will be magnified at the NATO summit, putting more pressure on Biden to appear energetic and avoid mistakes.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 9 July 2024
In reports from Gallup's December 2023 poll, nearly half of U.S. adults, upwards of 45%, reported frequently feeling stress, and this is undoubtedly magnified in the workplace.
—Finnian Kelly, TIME, 8 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for magnify
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'magnify.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near magnify
Cite this Entry
“Magnify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnify. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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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