1
as in to illumine
to supply with light
a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to explain
to make plain or understandable
the museum's exhibit on the refraction of light really illuminated the subject for us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to illustrate
to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration
no one knows for sure the identity of the artist who illuminated that medieval manuscript so beautifully
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to highlight
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
the results of the statewide testing illuminated the need to place more focus on instruction in math and science
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
how man is illuminated by a higher spirit
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illuminate
Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
—
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
Pulsating waves illuminated the sky; columns of light appeared and disappeared like music notes from a composer pounding the keys of a piano.
—Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 7 Jan. 2026
The brilliantly blue bolt can be seen illuminating the inside of a storm cloud above the historic city, but glimpses like these can go far beyond simply illustrating lightning’s grandeur.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
The headlights of the long-haul trucks illuminated Joshua trees and darting bats.
—Hazlitt, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
Pulsating waves illuminated the sky; columns of light appeared and disappeared like music notes from a composer pounding the keys of a piano.
—Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 7 Jan. 2026
The brilliantly blue bolt can be seen illuminating the inside of a storm cloud above the historic city, but glimpses like these can go far beyond simply illustrating lightning’s grandeur.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
The headlights of the long-haul trucks illuminated Joshua trees and darting bats.
—Hazlitt, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
Verb
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Rev 21:10), an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world.—
Daniel Burke,
NPR,
9 May 2025
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The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Since proper vesicle recycling is crucial for brain communication, this mechanism could explain why patients experience diverse symptoms – from movement problems to memory loss – depending on which brain regions are affected first.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Nov. 2025
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Speaking on The Allison Hagendorf Show, Perry, the lead singer, explained just how the stars aligned for 4 Non Blondes to take the stage together once again.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Emailing or texting similar job postings can help to illustrate what an IT pro is looking for.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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The exchange illustrated that tensions remain high in Congress as the government shutdown continues into its 37th day.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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O'Brien also highlights the importance of practicality.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2026
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As Su highlighted in her address, AI applications range from the lab bench to delivering healthcare, flying airplanes, to household robots, and much more.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Last session, lawmakers nearly passed a $3 million bill to help school districts educate students who need additional services, like a full-time nurse or an ASL interpreter, that can cost more than $50,000.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The room replicating the crash is dimly lit, which Knarr said is because there was no moonlight coming from the sky to illuminate the sea.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Nov. 2025
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Everything is dark around us, but the collision itself is a source of energy and the flash of it lights us up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Republican leadership faces mounting pressure to address internal divisions, clarify the GOP's platform and offer policy alternatives for key issues like health care, the cost of living and economic insecurity.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Regular honey is processed by filtration and heating, which removes or inactivates many of the beneficial compounds in honey, but clarifies it and prolongs its shelf life.—
Angela Ryan Lee,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In response, the White House is planning to adjust its messaging strategy to focus on affordability to try to win over voters who are worried about the high cost of living with plans to emphasize new tax breaks and show progress on fighting inflation.—
Michelle L. Price,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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The Texas native explained that Cruise emphasized the physical reality of stuntwork and the importance of discipline.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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