Synonyms

multiply

¹ American

[muhl-tuh-plahy] / ˈmʌl təˌplaɪ /

verb (used with object)

multiplied, multiplying

to make many or manifold; increase the number, quantity, etc., of.
Arithmetic. to find the product of by multiplication.
to breed (animals).
to propagate (plants).
to increase by procreation.

verb (used without object)

multiplied, multiplying

to grow in number, quantity, etc.; increase.

Synonyms:

mushroom, grow, proliferate
Arithmetic. to perform the process of multiplication.
to increase in number by procreation or natural generation.

multiply ² American

[muhl-tuh-plee] / ˈmʌl tə pli /

adverb

in several or many ways; in a multiple manner; manifoldly.

multiply British

/ ˈmʌltɪˌplaɪ /

verb

to increase or cause to increase in number, quantity, or degree
(tr) to combine (two numbers or quantities) by multiplication
(intr) to increase in number by reproduction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

multiply Scientific

/ mŭl′tə-plī′ /

To perform multiplication on a pair of quantities.

Other Word Forms

multipliable adjective
self-multiplied adjective
self-multiplying adjective
unmultiplied adjective
unmultiplying adjective

Etymology

Origin of multiply¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English multiplien, from Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicāre; multi-, ply ²

Origin of multiply²

First recorded in 1880–85; multiple + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Within hours, copies were multiplying, leading to a game of cat-and-mouse.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We therefore needed an energy acceptor that selectively captures the multiplied triplet excitons after fission."

From Science Daily

Boutiques, art galleries, spas and restaurants multiplied, including two more owned by Keller.

From The Wall Street Journal

Singly charged ions could escape, while multiply charged ions, which are often more biologically important, remained trapped.

From Science Daily

The strangle costs about $13.15, but of course, the actual cost of the trade is multiplied by 100, which each options contract represents.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023