enlighten
verb
en·light·en
in-ˈlī-tᵊn 
en-
enlightened; enlightening
in-ˈlīt-niŋ
-ˈlī-tᵊn-iŋ,
en-
1
a
: to furnish knowledge to : instruct
enlightened us about the problem
b
: to give spiritual insight to
2
archaic
: illuminate
Examples of enlighten in a Sentence
I don't understand what's going on; can someone please enlighten me?
the lecturer at the planetarium enlightened us about the latest astronomical discoveries
Recent Examples on the Web
The Bunker Hill reenactment coincided with the first sunny Saturday to enlighten the Boston area in 15 weeks, which may explain why some 20,000 people turned out to Gloucester’s Stage Fort Park that weekend to witness it.
—
Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Next week, the Federal Open Market Committee minutes from the September 16-17 meeting may enlighten investors searching for insight into the makeup of the Fed, following the divisions in the last two meetings.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
That really opened my eyes and enlightened me.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
The event’s vibe and purpose revolve around informing and celebrating beach culture, particularly at The Cove area, where activists and conservationists enlighten attendees about environmental issues.
—George A. Paul, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enlighten
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Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Next week, the Federal Open Market Committee minutes from the September 16-17 meeting may enlighten investors searching for insight into the makeup of the Fed, following the divisions in the last two meetings.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
That really opened my eyes and enlightened me.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
The event’s vibe and purpose revolve around informing and celebrating beach culture, particularly at The Cove area, where activists and conservationists enlighten attendees about environmental issues.
—George A. Paul, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enlighten
Cite this Entry
“Enlighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlighten. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
enlighten
verb
en·light·en
in-ˈlīt-ᵊn
enlightened; enlightening
-ˈlīt-niŋ
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to give knowledge or understanding to : instruct
enlightened us about the problem
enlightenment
noun
-ᵊn-mənt
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