English Reference
Verb

amplify

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈæmpɫəˌfaɪ/ UK /ˈæmplɪfˌaɪ/ am·pli·fy UK spelling amplifies, amplifying

v.to make something louder or stronger. You can use it for sounds or for making an idea more powerful.

v.to increase the volume of a sound or the intensity of an effect; to expand on a statement with more detail.


SIMPLE

The speakers amplify the sound of the guitar.

CONTEXTUAL

Social media can quickly amplify a small rumor until it becomes a major news story.

COMPLEX

The author uses vivid imagery to amplify the sense of isolation felt by the protagonist throughout the novel's final chapters.

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

Together, they reflect our ambition to create a museum that amplifies community, creates new opportunities and helps define the future.

The Guardian· 23 Aug 2026

They used peppery spices to amplify or temper the key ingredients allowed them.

Smithsonian Magazine· 12 Jun 2026

From Middle English amplifiyen, from Old French amplifier, from Latin amplificare (“to enlarge”), from amplus (“large”) + facere (“to make”). See ample , equivalent to ample + -ify.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin amplificare
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated