seeking to enlarge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seeking to enlarge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing the intention or desire to increase, expand, or make something larger in scope or size. Example: "The organization is seeking to enlarge its outreach efforts to better serve the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The London Institute has always been very successful in seeking to enlarge the student population".

The Guardian

It is probable that the first tunneling was done by prehistoric people seeking to enlarge their caves.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Rockefeller University, seeking to enlarge its campus, has proposed building a deck over the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive from East 64th to East 68th Street.

The New York Times

Flushing Meadows has already lost some of its territory to the tennis association, which is seeking to enlarge its existing footprint.

The New York Times

Any nation-state seeking to enlarge its territory in the way that the European Union is doing would long since have been accused of imperialism and made enemies for itself.

The Economist

"It might not be pleasant, but it is legitimate," he said, adding that Serbia would be seeking to enlarge its operations in northern Kosovo, where it provides education, culture and health services to the ethnic Serb population.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Yet attacks have been on the increase as the Taliban and other insurgent groups have sought to enlarge their areas of influence.

The New York Times

Since becoming the head of G.M. design in January, Mr. Welburn has sought to enlarge the world view of his designers.

The New York Times

Like many trial judges, Judge Jackson sought to enlarge his factual findings because federal appeals courts must defer to the factual conclusions of trial judges and can only overturn such conclusions when they are "clearly erroneous".

The New York Times

Visser 't Hooft played a major role in the inclusion of churches from communist countries in the World Council, and he also sought to enlarge the role played by African, Asian, and Orthodox churches in the organization.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It may also include health-care aid for the poor and uninsured a down payment on one of Mr Obama's more costly promises.Mr Obama's people will also be more willing to deploy the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Programme to prop up the financial system; they may even seek to enlarge it, and pursue some formal powers for taking over failing financial institutions.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seeking to enlarge" when you want to emphasize an active effort to expand or increase something, particularly in a formal or official context.

Common error

Avoid using "seeking to enlarge" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "trying to expand" or "wanting to increase" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seeking to enlarge" functions as a purpose connector, indicating the aim or intention behind an action. It combines a present participle ("seeking") with an infinitive phrase ("to enlarge"), illustrating a deliberate effort towards expansion as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seeking to enlarge" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express the intent to expand or increase something. Ludwig AI analysis reveals that it is most commonly found in neutral contexts such as news articles and encyclopedias, demonstrating a moderate level of formality. While not incorrect in informal settings, simpler alternatives might be more appropriate. Though not particularly frequent, "seeking to enlarge" is a valid and understandable expression for conveying a deliberate effort toward growth or expansion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aiming to expand

Focuses on the intention to expand, which is subtly different from actively seeking to do so.

looking to increase

Emphasizes the desire for an increase, a more general term than enlargement.

attempting to broaden

Highlights the effort to broaden something, suggesting a widening of scope.

trying to augment

Implies adding to something to increase its size or value.

endeavoring to amplify

Suggests an effort to make something louder or more significant, differing slightly from enlargement.

working to extend

Focuses on the process of extending something, often in terms of time or reach.

intending to magnify

Conveys the intention to make something appear larger or more important.

planning to develop

Emphasizes the planning stage of development, suggesting a more comprehensive approach.

hoping to grow

Expresses a desire for growth, a simpler and more general term.

desiring to inflate

Suggests a wish to inflate something, often in a metaphorical sense.

FAQs

How can I use "seeking to enlarge" in a sentence?

You can use "seeking to enlarge" to describe an active effort to expand something, such as, "The company is "seeking to enlarge" its market share" or "The university is "seeking to enlarge" its research facilities".

What are some alternatives to "seeking to enlarge"?

Alternatives include "aiming to expand", "looking to increase", or "attempting to broaden", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "seeking to enlarge" formal or informal?

"Seeking to enlarge" tends to be more formal. In informal contexts, phrases like "trying to expand" or "wanting to increase" are often more suitable.

What's the difference between "seeking to enlarge" and "expanding"?

"Seeking to enlarge" implies an active effort or intention to expand, whereas "expanding" simply describes the process of becoming larger. The former emphasizes the intent, while the latter focuses on the action.