amplify

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/ˈæmplɪfaɪ/
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Increasing the size, volume, or impact of something, from sound and signals to ideas and online content.

Examples

  • Engineers amplified the output to meet specifications.
  • By amplifying the report, the NGO attracted new donors.
  • She amplifies the article to reach more readers.
  • We need to amplify this video to increase its views.
  • We need to amplify the proposal to convince investors.

Similar words

escalate
strengthen
magnify
enhance
magnify
escalate
extend
boost
increase
propagate

Meanings

Increase sound volume

verb
technology
neutral
To make a sound louder by raising its amplitude.

Usage

Use amplify for raising the volume of audio, and amplified for past actions.

Examples

  • The guitarist amplified the riff to fill the hall.
  • She amplifies the bass during the live show.
  • After the concert, the sound engineer amplified the recording for the album.
  • The microphone amplifies even the faintest whisper.
  • They amplified the volume until the neighbors complained.
  • We are amplifying the track to test the speakers.
  • He amplified the feedback loop, causing distortion.

Common mistakes

The past tense is often misspelled.
IncorrectCorrect
The speaker amplify the music. The speaker amplifies the music.
The volume was amplifyed. The volume was amplified.
The chef amplified the sauce. The chef thickened the sauce.
We need to amplify the meeting minutes. We need to expand the meeting minutes.

Similar words

Expand an idea

verb
everyday
neutral
To make an argument, explanation, or story larger by adding details or examples.

Usage

Use amplify when you add detail to clarify or strengthen a point.

Examples

  • The author amplified the plot by adding a subplot.
  • During the debate, she amplified her points with statistics.
  • He amplifies the theory with recent research.
  • We need to amplify the proposal to convince investors.
  • The teacher amplified the lesson with visual aids.
  • They are amplifying the story to make it more compelling.
  • I will amplify my argument in the next paragraph.

Common mistakes

Mixing up amplify with elaborate.
IncorrectCorrect
She amplified her story with many unrelated facts. She elaborated her story with many unrelated facts.
The report amplifies the data. The report expands the data.
He amplified the meeting agenda. He extended the meeting agenda.
They amplified the recipe. They modified the recipe.

Similar words

Increase signal amplitude

verb
technology
technical
To raise the strength of an electrical or electronic signal.

Usage

Use amplify for electronic signals, and amplified for past actions.

Examples

  • The lab equipment amplifies the weak radio signal.
  • Engineers amplified the output to meet specifications.
  • A transistor can amplify a small current.
  • We are amplifying the audio feed for the broadcast.
  • The device amplified the voltage tenfold.
  • Testing showed the system amplifies noise at high frequencies.
  • They amplified the sensor signal before analysis.

Common mistakes

Confusing amplify with attenuate.
IncorrectCorrect
The circuit amplifies the noise. The circuit attenuates the noise.
We need to amplify the signal to reduce it. We need to amplify the signal to increase it.
The amplifier amplifies the voltage by decreasing it. The amplifier amplifies the voltage by increasing it.
She amplified the data loss. She reduced the data loss.

Similar words

Increase reach of content

verb
business
neutral
To share or repost something online so that it reaches a larger audience.

Usage

Use amplify when you repost a tweet or article to broaden its visibility.

Examples

  • The marketer amplified the campaign by reposting it on multiple platforms.
  • She amplifies the article to reach more readers.
  • We need to amplify this video to increase its views.
  • They amplified the announcement across the company's social channels.
  • He amplified the tweet, and it went viral.
  • Our team amplifies the blog post every week.
  • By amplifying the report, the NGO attracted new donors.

Common mistakes

Using amplify for original posting rather than sharing.
IncorrectCorrect
I amplified my blog post by writing it. I posted my blog post.
She amplified the tweet by liking it. She retweeted the tweet.
They amplified the video by uploading it. They uploaded the video.
He amplified the article by commenting on it. He shared the article.

Similar words

Usage

Use amplify when you want to make something louder, larger, or more widely seen, and choose the appropriate tense for past or progressive contexts.

Common mistakes

Using amplifyed as the past tense, when the correct form is amplified.

Etymology

From Old French amplifier, from Latin amplificare ‘to make larger’, formed from amplus ‘large’ + facere ‘to make’.

FAQ

What does amplify mean?

It means to make something larger, louder, or more noticeable, such as a sound, an idea, a signal, or online content.

How do you form the past tense of amplify?

The past tense is amplified.

Can amplify be used for non‑audio contexts?

Yes, it can refer to expanding an argument, increasing the reach of a social media post, or boosting an electronic signal.

What is the difference between amplify and magnify?

Amplify often implies increasing volume or impact, while magnify usually refers to making something appear larger visually.

Is amplify a regular verb?

Yes, it follows regular conjugation: amplify, amplified, amplifying.

What are common synonyms for amplify?

Boost, increase, raise, intensify, magnify, enhance, escalate, heighten.

When should you not use amplify?

Do not use it to mean “simplify” or “shorten”; those are opposite actions.

Does amplify have a noun form?

The related noun is amplification, not amplify itself.

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