v. 1
To make (something) larger.
We'll need to enlarge our budget if we want to include the helicopter ride in our holiday.
v. 2
To grow larger.
v. 3
To speak or write at length upon or on (some subject); expand; elaborate
v. 4
To release; to set at large.

Related words

Word family: enlargement

Forms

Past participle: enlarged
e.g. enlarged → magnified, dilated, extended, added…

Choose the right word

Enlarge, Develop, Expand, Extend, Expatiate or Dilate?

We may develop a thought, expand an illustration, extend a discussion, expatiate on a hobby, dilate on something joyous or sad, enlarge a volume, unfold a scheme, widen the range of treatment.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

extend I want to extend my stay here for a few more days.
augment Jugurtha sought to augment his power.
magnify You can use a magnifying glass to magnify small text.
dilate I hate the drops doctors use to dilate my eyes for an eye exam.
grow "I will grow many trees here", he said to himself.
expand Detours expand your knowledge of the surroundings.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
enlarge		falling
extend		falling
augment		steady
magnify		rising
dilate		rising
grow		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

2 letters: up¹
3 letters: add¹, wax¹
4 letters: free¹, grow¹, rise¹
5 letters: build¹, raise¹, swell¹
6 letters: spread¹, extend², expand², dilate²
7 letters: develop³, stretch¹, enhance², broaden², augment², amplify³, inflate², magnify³, thicken², expound², descant, distend², greaten, exposit
8 letters: increase², liberate³, heighten², embiggen
9 letters: elaborate³, aggravate³, expatiate, lucubrate
10 letters: exaggerate⁴, aggrandize³, aggrandise

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (extend² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: agrandir
Italiano: ingrandire
Deutsch: vergrößern