enlarge

/ɪnˈlɑːdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈlɑːrdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈlärj en-/ (ame, mw)

enlarge — verb

  • enlargepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • enlargeshe / she / it
  • enlargedpast simple
  • enlarging-ing form

1. to increase in size, amount, or scale — for example, making a room bigger by rem

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to increase in size, amount, or scale — for example, making a room bigger by removing a wall, or having a business grow to serve more customers.

例句

Aoi decided to enlarge the garden so the children would have more space to play.

transitive: enlarge + object (a physical space)

The small workshop slowly enlarged over the years as more orders came in from abroad.

intransitive: something enlarges by itself

同義詞
  • expand

    broader scope — 'expand' can mean extending outwards or spreading, while 'enlarge' focuses on size increase

  • increase

    more neutral and widely applicable, especially for amounts and numbers

  • magnify

    more specific to making something appear larger than it is, often through a lens

反義詞
  • shrink

    to become smaller in size

  • reduce

    to make smaller in size, amount, or degree

文法句型

enlarge + object (transitive)

enlarge (no object, intransitive)

用法筆記

Can be used both transitively (you enlarge something) and intransitively (something enlarges). The intransitive use is less common in everyday speech than 'grow' or 'expand'; 'enlarge' often carries a sense of deliberate action.

常見錯誤

❌My English vocabulary has enlarged a lot this year.
✅My English vocabulary has grown a lot this year.
💡'enlarge' is not used for abstract personal development; use 'grow' or 'expand' instead.
❌The company enlarged the price of its products.
✅The company increased the price of its products.
💡'enlarge' is not used with prices, numbers, or quantities; use 'increase' or 'raise'.

2. to create a larger version of a picture or text by printing it at a bigger scale

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to create a larger version of a picture or text by printing it at a bigger scale, often using a computer or machine.

例句

Nora took the wedding photo to the shop to have it enlarged to poster size.

transitive with specific measurement (poster size)

The detective enlarged the blurry image on her screen to read the car's licence plate.

同義詞
  • blow up

    informal synonym, common in everyday speech

  • magnify

    to make something appear larger through a lens or software zoom, not necessarily to create a physical copy

反義詞
  • reduce

    to make a smaller copy of an image or document

文法句型

enlarge + object (photograph, image, document)

用法筆記

The noun 'enlargement' is commonly used to refer to the printed copy itself, e.g., 'a wall-sized enlargement of the original photo'. This sense is the most specific and technical of the three.

常見錯誤

❌Please enlarge the font size to 14 points.
✅Please increase the font size to 14 points.
💡'enlarge' is not used for adjusting type size; use 'increase' or 'make larger'.

3. to give more information or talk in greater detail about a particular subject, i

3.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to give more information or talk in greater detail about a particular subject, idea, or statement that has already been mentioned.

例句

Professor Samir enlarged on his theory about climate shifts in Southeast Asia.

enlarge on + topic (formal register)

The report noted the budget problems but did not enlarge on why they overspent.

同義詞
  • elaborate on

    more common in everyday formal use; less literary than 'enlarge upon'

  • expand on

    similar meaning, slightly more informal

  • expound

    more academic and formal; implies a thorough, systematic explanation

反義詞

文法句型

enlarge on/upon + topic

用法筆記

Always followed by the preposition 'on' or 'upon' when specifying what is being discussed. Never used transitively in this sense ('He enlarged the reasons' is incorrect). This sense is restricted to formal written and spoken discourse.

常見錯誤

❌The speaker enlarged the reasons for the policy change.
✅The speaker enlarged on the reasons for the policy change.
💡Sense 3 requires the preposition 'on' or 'upon'; it cannot take a direct object.