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Prepositions after verbs

multiply with prepositions

Multiply commonly uses by in mathematics and business contexts.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows multiply?

Use multiply by for mathematical operations or increases: multiply by 4. Multiply to can describe a final result. In, like, and with are less common and depend on context.

Please multiply by ten.
Profits multiplied by a factor of three.
The cells multiplied to millions within days.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
multiply by + number

Mathematical operation

By introduces the factor used in multiplication.

You can multiply 6 by 7 easily.
2
multiply to + result

Showing the final amount

To can introduce the resulting quantity.

The investment multiplied to twice its original value.
3
multiply in + area

Increasing within a place or field

In can describe where growth happens.

Rumours multiplied in the media.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
multiply by
Multiply the answer by two.
Standard mathematical pattern.
multiply to
Sales multiplied to record levels.
Shows the final result.
multiply with
Bacteria multiply with warmth and moisture.
With introduces accompanying conditions.
multiply in
The errors multiplied in the final report.
In refers to the area or context.
multiply like
The rabbits multiplied like insects.
Like introduces a comparison, not a fixed pattern.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using with for arithmetic

By is the standard preposition in multiplication.

✕ Multiply 8 with 5. ✓ Multiply 8 by 5.

Using like as a complement

Like introduces comparison only.

✕ The values multiplied like five. ✓ The values multiplied by five.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Multiply 12 ___ 4.
2. The population multiplied ___ three million.
3. Errors multiplied ___ the system after the update.

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Frequently asked questions

Do we say multiply by or multiply with?

Multiply by is the standard mathematical form.

Can multiply be intransitive?

Yes. Things such as problems or cells can multiply without an object.

What does multiply to mean?

It describes growth reaching a final amount or level.

magnify, by, magnify, in "maintain by" or "maintain in"? make by, in, for, of or to? "manage by" or "manage to"? manifest in, by, as, into or on? manipulate by, in, for, with or into? mar by, with, at, for or as? march in, to, on, into or through? "mark by" or "mark with"? "market in" or "market to"? "marry to" or "marry in"? masquerade as, under, at or Like?

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