Synonyms:
| augment, | dilate, | expand, | extend, | unfold, |
| develop, | enlarge, | expatiate, | increase, | widen. |
Amplify is now rarely used in the sense of increase, to add material substance, bulk, volume, or the like; it is now almost wholly applied to discourse or writing, signifying to make fuller in statement, whether with or without adding matter of importance, as by stating fully what was before only implied, or by adding illustrations to make the meaning more readily apprehended, etc. The chief difficulty of very young writers is to amplify, to get beyond the bare curt statement by developing, expanding, unfolding the thought. The chief difficulty of those who have more material and experience is to condense sufficiently. So, in the early days of our literature amplify was used in the favorable sense; but at present this word and most kindred words are coming to share the derogatory meaning that has long attached to expatiate. We may develop a thought, expand an illustration, extend a discussion, expatiate on a hobby, dilate on something joyous or sad, enlarge a volume, unfold a scheme, widen the range of treatment.
Antonyms:
| abbreviate, | amputate, | condense, | cut down, | reduce, | summarize, |
| abridge, | "boil down," | curtail, | epitomize, | retrench, | sum up. |
Prepositions:
To amplify on or upon the subject is needless. Amplify this matter by illustrations.