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Glite Dictionary
to embiggen

to embiggen

1 9.9
To make something bigger, often in a joking way
  • verb
  • /ɛmˈbɪɡən/
  • Slang
translation icon : ampliar
  • Click to embiggen.

Examples

  • Specifically, I suggested that there are certain kinds of people the Republicans should try not to have associated with them in their quest to embiggen their tent.

    Blog text (9)

  • Click to embiggen.

    Blog text (7)

  • (Click to embiggen.)

    Blog text (22)

  • A recent retrospective analysis of the UNOS database produced this survival curve (click to embiggen):

    Blog text (29)

  • If you are a man and you are shocked at the notion that every little thought or desire that you have is not a special snowflake, or that the world is not embiggened by the expression of each of them, that's because you have unexamined privilege.

    Blog text (10)

  • The artist used digital tools to embiggen the image for the poster.

  • He joked that his weekend plans would embiggen his social life dramatically.

  • In the latest update, the game developers decided to embiggen the map to include new areas.

Synonyms

to grow
vsto embiggen
∞ 1.0

Become larger or more physically mature

is informal and often joking rather than natural steady development
to expand
vsto embiggen
805 2.5

To grow larger in size, amount, or importance

is used playfully to express enlargement in an informal way
to enlarge
vsto embiggen
70 3.0

To make something bigger in size or amount

is informal and humorous rather than neutral or formal
to magnify
vsto embiggen
46 3.5

To make something look larger using a lens or device

is a playful increase in real size rather than optical enlargement
to dilate
vsto embiggen
35 6.1

To become wider or more open, as when pupils open in the dark

is a playful informal increase rather than a physiological widening process
to resize
vsto embiggen
  • Specialized
11 3.2

To change the size of something, for example a picture or window, to make it fit better

is an informal joking enlargement rather than a technical size change
to scale up
vsto embiggen
9 3.9

Increase the size or amount of something so it still works well

is a casual or humorous increase rather than planned proportional growth
to supersize
vsto embiggen
5 3.7

To make a food or drink portion larger for an extra charge

is a humorous general increase not limited to food portions
to bulge out
vsto embiggen
3 3.7

To stick out in a round shape, like a pocket or balloon

is a humorous enlargement idea rather than a physical rounded swelling
to blow up
vsto embiggen
1 3.4

To make a photo or picture larger so people can see it

is an informal joke word not only for images but any enlargement
to blimp out
vsto embiggen
  • Informal
1 9.2

To become much larger, often by filling with air

is a playful general word for growing rather than a literal inflation

Antonyms

to diminish
201 3.7

To become less in size, importance, or value

to shrink
181 2.8

Become less in amount or value

How Big

to magnify
46 3.5
to expand
805 2.5
to embiggen
  • Slang
1 9.9
to increase
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

embiggen infinitive
embigged past
embigged past participle
embiggening present participle
embiggens third person singular

Etymology

Embiggen is a playful modern word formed from em-, big, and -en, so it literally means 'to make big'. It was made popular by a TV cartoon and is used in a funny, informal way to mean 'to make larger' or to increase size or influence, so that's why we use it when something grows in size or power.