enlightening

adjective

en·​light·​en·​ing in-ˈlīt-niŋ How to pronounce enlightening (audio)
-ˈlī-tᵊn-iŋ,
en-
: providing or tending to provide knowledge, understanding, or insight
a very enlightening discussion
… he takes readers on enlightening excursions through the nature of Judaism, Hegelian philosophy, wherever his curiosity heads.George Johnson
enlighteningly adverb

Examples of enlightening in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Shen Yun Take an enlightening journey through 5,000 years of history with this epic production featuring classical Chinese dance. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 28 Feb. 2024 The campaign's viral success marked Heineken's stance at the crossroads of tech and culture, demonstrating how companies can interact with cutting-edge tech in a way that's both enlightening and wildly entertaining. Sandy Carter, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 The Black Health & Wellness Pioneers series for Black History Month is an enlightening and inspirational journey through time that recognizes and celebrates Black individuals’ invaluable contributions to the health and wellness field. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 2 Feb. 2024 Returning the Bible to the McKnight family was quite the enlightening experience, Coogan said. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2024 The results were enlightening, showing executives have clear ideas of what to do in this unpredictable year. Megan Poinski, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Enjoy dinner, entertainment and enlightening information while celebrating the contributions of African Americans in the arts. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 30 Jan. 2024 Through historical flashbacks and research trips that jet Wilkerson to Germany and India, along with enlightening talks with loved ones, Wilkerson pieces together a convincing argument that opens the window to looking at race and oppression of others into a thought-provoking new way. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024 The experience proved enlightening and inspired hope about her parents' situation. Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 5 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enlightening.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of enlightening was in 1574

Dictionary Entries Near enlightening

Cite this Entry

“Enlightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlightening. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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