illuminate

1 of 3

verb

il·​lu·​mi·​nate i-ˈlü-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce illuminate (audio)
illuminated; illuminating

transitive verb

1
a(1)
: to supply or brighten with light
(2)
: to make luminous or shining
b
: to enlighten spiritually or intellectually
c
: to subject to radiation
d
archaic : to set alight
2
a
: to make clear : elucidate
b
: to bring to the fore : highlight
a crisis can illuminate how interdependent we all are
3
: to make illustrious or resplendent
4
: to decorate (something, such as a manuscript) with gold or silver or brilliant colors or with often elaborate designs or miniature pictures
illuminator noun

illuminate

2 of 3

adjective

il·​lu·​mi·​nate i-ˈlü-mə-nət How to pronounce illuminate (audio)
1
archaic : brightened with light
2
archaic : intellectually or spiritually enlightened

illuminate

3 of 3

noun

il·​lu·​mi·​nate i-ˈlü-mə-nət How to pronounce illuminate (audio)
archaic
: one having or claiming unusual enlightenment

Examples of illuminate in a Sentence

Verb the part of the moon illuminated by the sun A university study has illuminated the problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Just as Baldwin illuminated Douglass’s historical critique, Ta-Nehisi Coates has extended this analysis to contemporary America. Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 4 July 2025 Nights are now the shortest, and the time that a satellite in low Earth orbit (like the ISS and Tiangong) can remain illuminated by the sun can extend throughout the night, a situation that can never be attained during other times of the year. Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 July 2025 Martin includes a short, illuminating chapter on the early history of the colleges, both founded by Protestant denominations, that became HT, the oldest institution of higher learning in Austin. Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 While a little moonlight can help illuminate the landscape, too much of it will make the Milky Way harder to see. Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for illuminate

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin illuminatus, past participle of illuminare, from in- + luminare to light up, from lumin-, lumen light — more at luminary

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of illuminate was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illuminate. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

illuminate

verb
il·​lu·​mi·​nate
il-ˈü-mə-ˌnāt
illuminated; illuminating
1
: to supply with light : light up
illuminate a room
the part of the moon illuminated by the sun
2
: to make clear : explain
illuminated the point with good examples
3
: to decorate with designs or pictures in gold or colors
illuminate a manuscript
illuminative
-ˌnāt-iv
adjective
illuminator
-ˌnāt-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on illuminate

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