amplify

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈæmpləˌfaɪ/

📖 Definitions

  1. verb
    To increase the volume, strength, or intensity of something, especially sound or an electrical signal.; To expand or elaborate on a statement, idea, or argument by adding more detail.; To increase the magnitude or effect of something.; In genetics, to produce multiple copies of a DNA sequence, as in polymerase chain reaction.

🔗 Details

Word forms

3rd sing.: amplifies Past: amplified Past part.: amplified Pres part.: amplifying

Collocations

amplify the signalamplify the soundamplify the effectamplify the messageamplify the voiceamplify the impact

Derivatives

amplificationamplifieramplifiable

Synonyms

magnifyintensifyboostenhancestrengthenincrease

Antonyms

diminishreduceweakenattenuate

Commonly confused

magnify
EN: 'Magnify' typically refers to making something appear larger visually, while 'amplify' refers to increasing intensity, volume, or strength.
multiply
EN: 'Multiply' means to increase in number or quantity by reproduction or repeated addition, while 'amplify' means to increase in intensity or volume.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember that the 'i' is retained before suffixes: 'amplified', 'amplifying' (not 'amplfyed' or 'amplfying'). The word follows the '-ify' verb pattern like 'simplify' and 'clarify'.

💬 Examples

  1. The microphone was used to amplify the speaker's voice.

  2. Could you amplify your remarks about the new policy?

  3. The media coverage amplified public anxiety about the crisis.

  4. The researchers amplified the target gene using PCR.