Cool MateEnhance vs Multiply
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Enhance
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B2verb
Multiply
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most common: Multiply
| Enhance | Multiply | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈhɑːns/","/ɪnˈhɑːnsɪz/","/ɪnˈhɑːnst/","/ɪnˈhɑːnsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈhæns/","/ɪnˈhænsɪz/","/ɪnˈhænst/","/ɪnˈhænsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈmʌltɪplaɪ/","/ˈmʌltɪplaɪz/","/ˈmʌltɪplaɪd/","/ˈmʌltɪplaɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmʌltɪplaɪ/","/ˈmʌltɪplaɪz/","/ˈmʌltɪplaɪd/","/ˈmʌltɪplaɪɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To improve something and make it better. | To increase a number by another number. |
| Example | The new software will enhance the overall performance of the computer. | To find the area of a rectangle, you need to multiply its length by its width. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | considerably, dramatically, greatly, can, could, may, digitally enhanced, surgically enhanced | endlessly, indefinitely, greatly, by, endlessly, indefinitely, greatly, by, endlessly, indefinitely, greatly, by |
| Antonyms | degrade, diminish, reduce | divide |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'enhancement' in noun form., Using 'enhance' without an object (it needs something to enhance)., Incorrectly using as a synonym for 'increase' in unrelated contexts. | Confusing 'multiply' with 'add' or 'subtract'., Incorrectly using 'multiply by' when it should be 'multiply with'., Omitting the number when stating the multiplication. |
| Usage notes | Used in both professional and casual contexts. More common in writing than speaking. Avoid in informal situations where simpler words may suffice. | Commonly used in math contexts, suitable for both casual and formal situations. Avoid using in literal sense when discussing general growth or increase. |
Frequently asked questions: Enhance vs Multiply
What's the difference between Enhance and Multiply?
Enhance: To improve something and make it better. Multiply: To increase a number by another number.
Which is more common: Enhance and Multiply?
Multiply is the most common in everyday English.
Are Enhance and Multiply the same CEFR level?
Enhance: B2, Multiply: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Enhance and Multiply interchangeably?
Not always. Enhance and Multiply are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.