illuminating
adjective
il·lu·mi·nat·ing
i-ˈlü-mə-ˌnā-tiŋ 
: providing insight, clarity, or understanding : highly informative
an illuminating remark/discussion
… much of the information is quite illuminating …—
Glenn Kenny
Glenn Kenny
illuminatingly
adverb
Examples of illuminating in a Sentence
the show is an illuminating tutorial on ways to prepare popular dishes using wholesome ingredients
Recent Examples on the Web
Also questionably handled is a psychologically illuminating subplot around Hana’s family history of weight problems, teased with some needlessly shadowy ambuigity ahead of a surprise reveal.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Even long-term partners can have unspoken feelings that remain hidden – and discovering these perspectives can be both surprising and illuminating.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 25 Jan. 2026
And What That Reveals One of the most illuminating areas of friendship research explores how men and women approach connection differently.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The life of Universal Friend proved to be particularly illuminating, especially in how Friend established communities that embodied the ideals for which the American Revolution was fought, while elsewhere in the new nation of the United States those ideals fell woefully by the wayside.
—Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminating
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Even long-term partners can have unspoken feelings that remain hidden – and discovering these perspectives can be both surprising and illuminating.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 25 Jan. 2026
And What That Reveals One of the most illuminating areas of friendship research explores how men and women approach connection differently.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The life of Universal Friend proved to be particularly illuminating, especially in how Friend established communities that embodied the ideals for which the American Revolution was fought, while elsewhere in the new nation of the United States those ideals fell woefully by the wayside.
—Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminating
Cite this Entry
“Illuminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illuminating. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
