DictionaryAI

multiply

MUL-ti-ply/ˈmʌltɪplaɪ/
As an adverbMUL-ti-plee

Verbmultiplies, multiplying, multiplied

Noun pluralmultiplies

8 meanings of multiply

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive
    To add a number to itself a set number of times to find a total.

    Like stacking the same number of blocks in several equal rows, then counting them all.

    Multiply seven by eight to get the answer.

    She had to multiply each price by the number of items sold.

    Oppositedivide

    Note
  2. 2
    verbtransitive
    To make something much greater in size, number, or amount.

    Like one candle lighting many others until the whole room glows.

    Good advertising can multiply a store's sales in just a few weeks.

    Worrying tends to multiply small problems until they feel huge.

    Similarincrease, boost, magnify, compound

    Oppositereduce, decrease, diminish

    Note
  3. 3
    verbintransitive
    To grow larger in number over time.

    Like a few weeds in a yard slowly turning into many.

    Rabbits multiply quickly when food is plentiful.

    Mistakes tend to multiply when people rush.

    Similarincrease, grow, proliferate, mushroom

    Oppositedecrease, dwindle, diminish

  4. 4
    verbintransitive
    To work out answers by doing multiplication in math.

    Children usually learn to add before they multiply.

    She can multiply quickly in her head.

    Oppositedivide

    Note
  5. 5
    verbintransitive
    To produce young and grow into a much bigger group.

    Like a single pair of rabbits becoming a whole field of them.

    Mice multiply fast in a warm, quiet barn.

    The bacteria multiplied overnight in the warm dish.

    Similarbreed, reproduce, propagate, proliferate

  6. 6
    adverb
    In many different ways.

    The theory is multiply supported by evidence from several fields.

    Her argument was multiply flawed, with errors in nearly every step.

    Similarrepeatedly

    Note
  7. 7
    nouncountable
    One act of multiplying two numbers together.

    Each multiply is one small step the computer does very fast.

    The computer does millions of multiplies every second.

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 8
    verbraretransitive
    To combine with another number as one of two factors being multiplied.

    To find the area, let the width multiply the length.

    This follows a similar process, counters having to be removed and replaced at each stage of the remaining part of the calculation except the final one, where 2 multiplies 3 to give 6.
    1983, Graham Flegg, NumbersHere, multiplies means is multiplied with, so 2 times 3 makes 6.
    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of multiply apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–5, 7–8

From Latin words meaning "many" and "to fold," which came into English through Old French.

Meaning 6

From the word "multiple" plus the ending "-ly."