illuminate

1 of 3

verb

il·​lu·​mi·​nate i-ˈlü-mə-ˌnāt 

illuminated; illuminating

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to supply or brighten with light

candles illuminating a church

(2)

: to make luminous or shining

b

: to enlighten spiritually or intellectually

a career educator who illuminated hundreds of students

c

: to subject to radiation

d

archaic : to set alight

2

a

: to make clear : elucidate

an explanation that illuminated the situation

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

i-ˈlü-mə-ˌnā-tər 

noun

illuminate

2 of 3

adjective

il·​lu·​mi·​nate i-ˈlü-mə-nət 

1

archaic : brightened with light

2

archaic : intellectually or spiritually enlightened

illuminate

3 of 3

noun

il·​lu·​mi·​nate i-ˈlü-mə-nət 

archaic

: one having or claiming unusual enlightenment

Synonyms of illuminate

Verb

• illumine
• light

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

Verb

According to the trade counsel, the recent tit-for-tat trade actions undertaken by both Washington and Ottowa have served to illuminate the persistence of a trend that stands to continue over the coming months. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026

Red neon tubes illuminated art works ranging from the disturbing (a black-and-white photograph of a person stuffing sausages in their mouth) to the mundane (a pastoral painting of a snowshoe-wearing rifleman). — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2026

However, as the title suggests, the process of wrapping up his affairs illuminates political, professional and personal contours previously unseen, in remarkably surprising ways. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Massachusetts marked 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks with a statewide moment of silence on Friday and special tributes that include illuminating Boston buildings in remembrance of the tragedy. — Neal Riley, CBS News, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English illuminaten "to enlighten spiritually," borrowed from Latin illūminātus, past participle of illūmināre "to give light to, light up, brighten" (Medieval Latin, "to enlighten spiritually or intellectually, decorate [a manuscript]"), from il- il- + -lūmināre, derivative of lūmen "light, source of light" — more at lumen

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Latin illūminātus, past participle of illūmināre "to give light to, light up, brighten" — more at illuminate entry 1

Noun

probably derivative of illuminate entry 2, in part after illuminati

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

Rhymes for illuminate

• aluminate

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