Amplified

How to spell amplified

9 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce amplified

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does amplified mean?

1. verbIncreased the volume, strength, or intensity of something, often using electronic equipment.
2. adjectiveHaving been increased in volume or intensity, especially by electronic means.

Amplified in a sentence

• verb

  The sound engineer amplified the vocals so the back rows could hear clearly.

• adjective

  The amplified guitar drowned out the quieter instruments in the mix.

• verb

  The report amplified public concern about the proposed road closure.

• adjective

  His amplified voice echoed across the crowded stadium.

Where does amplified come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This is the past form of 'amplify', which English took from the Old French 'amplifier' in the late fourteenth century. The French verb came in turn from the Latin 'amplificare', a compound of 'amplus', meaning 'large', 'wide' or 'abundant', and 'facere', meaning 'to make'; so the literal sense was 'to make larger'. For centuries it described enlarging or expanding something in size, importance, or detail, as when a writer amplified an argument with more evidence. Only with the rise of electrical sound equipment in the early twentieth century did 'amplified' settle into its familiar modern meaning of made louder. The same 'ampl-' root gives us 'ample', a useful memory hook, while the awkward middle vowel is an unstressed schwa spelled with an 'i' that catches many writers out.

How the word is built

• ampl- (from Latin amplus: large, wide)
• -ify (to make)
• -ed (past tense)