amplify

/ˈæmplɪfaɪ/

Say it: AM-pluh-fai

1. verb To make a sound louder, typically using electronic equipment.
The microphone will amplify your voice so everyone in the auditorium can hear.
2. verb To increase the strength, importance, or effect of something.
Social media has the power to amplify a single opinion into a global movement.
3. verb To explain something more fully by adding details.
Could you amplify your earlier point about the budget shortfall?
4. verb To increase the amplitude of an electrical signal or other wave.
The new antenna is designed to amplify weak radio signals from distant stations.

📖 Seen in the wild

The microphone was used to amplify the speaker's voice so that everyone in the large hall could hear.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ amplify in a sentence

His dismissive comment only served to amplify her feelings of insecurity.
We need a strategic plan to amplify our brand's message in a crowded market.
The report found that existing inequalities were amplified by the economic crisis.
The concert hall's acoustics naturally amplify the orchestra's sound.
Before the final vote, the senator rose to amplify his reasons for opposing the bill.
A transistor's primary function is to amplify an electrical current.
The stark, white walls seemed to amplify the silence in the room.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

increase boost intensify magnify augment heighten escalate expand

increase · a more general term that lacks the specific sense of making something already present stronger or louder.

boost · more informal and often suggests a quick, sharp, or temporary increase.

intensify · focuses on making a quality more extreme or concentrated, rather than just increasing its volume or scale.

magnify · often implies making something seem larger or more important, sometimes with a hint of exaggeration.

Opposites: reduce, diminish, lessen, muffle, decrease

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'amplify' comes to English from the Latin 'amplificare', which literally means 'to make larger'. It's a combination of 'amplus', meaning 'large' or 'abundant', and 'facere', meaning 'to make'. This core idea of making something bigger has remained central, expanding from physical size to concepts like sound, power, and importance.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

amplify the soundamplify a signalamplify a messageamplify the effectamplify feelings of

'Amplify' is a versatile word used for both literal and figurative increases. While its most common literal use relates to sound, it is widely used figuratively to describe making ideas, feelings, or effects more powerful. It is a stronger and slightly more formal choice than 'boost' or 'turn up'. Be careful not to confuse it with 'clarify'; to amplify a point is to add more detail or force, while to clarify it is to make it easier to understand.

Word family: amplification, amplifier

💬 Quick answers

What does 'amplify' mean in simple terms?

It means to make something stronger, larger, or louder. This can apply to sound, but also to abstract things like a feeling, a message, or an effect.

What is the difference between 'amplify' and 'intensify'?

'Amplify' generally means to increase the volume, scale, or reach of something. 'Intensify' focuses more on making something more concentrated or extreme in quality, such as intensifying a color or a conflict.

Is 'amplify' a formal word?

'Amplify' is a neutral to slightly formal word. It is suitable for a wide range of contexts, from technical writing and business reports to everyday conversation.

What is an example of amplifying a message?

Sharing an important news article on social media is a way to amplify its message, helping it reach a much larger audience than its original publisher could alone.

1 word nerd collected it V

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