enlightening

adjective

en·​light·​en·​ing in-ˈlīt-niŋ 

-ˈlī-tᵊn-iŋ,

en-

: providing or tending to provide knowledge, understanding, or insight

a very enlightening discussion

… he takes readers on enlightening excursions through the nature of Judaism, Hegelian philosophy, wherever his curiosity heads.

—George Johnson

enlighteningly adverb

Synonyms

• educational
• educative
• illuminating
• informational
• informative
• informatory
• instructional
• instructive

Examples of enlightening in a Sentence

an enlightening pamphlet about the major changes that consumers can expect from their cable and Internet service providers

Recent Examples on the Web

Racing towards a potentially deadly storm may sound like an absurd thing to do – but for some scientific researchers, chasing extreme weather can be enlightening as well as exhilarating. —Julia O'Driscoll, The Week Uk, theweek, 17 July 2024

Trial captivates social media But for trial watchers, the case against Young Thug has been enlightening, opening a door into the rapper’s life and subjecting his song lyrics to legal scrutiny. —Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 13 July 2024

These suggestions are uplifting and enlightening and promise to increase your appreciation and sense of pride for the Black American experience. —Bridgette Bartlett Royall, Essence, 19 June 2024

Visit one night for a vinyl DJing crash course, another for an enlightening discussion on Arab music, and yet another for an intimate movie night. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined above