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

illuminatingly adverb

Synonyms

• instructive
• informative
• educational
• educative
• instructional
• informational

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

The latter may scoff at the idea of a nostalgic horror movie, but anyone who's had the urge to peek through their fingers as nightmares unfold in front of them knows that fear can be both cathartic and illuminating. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025

Thanks for your thorough and illuminating answers. —Jane Ciabattari september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025

His section doesn’t do a great deal to flesh him out further, but his strategically low vantage point, as the most normal, streetwise, and least privileged player in the game, is an illuminating one. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025

Again, bold and daring and wild changes, sure, but also imaginative and illuminating. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for illuminating

• accelerating
• accentuating
• accommodating
• accumulating
• adjudicating
• administrating
• affiliating
• agglutinating
• alienating
• alleviating
• amalgamating
• ameliorating