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

But Greene wasn’t interrupting anything very enlightening, and in a less outrageous way, her colleagues, too, were posing non-questions and pontificating for the purpose of display. —F.d. Flam, Twin Cities, 7 June 2024

The films on this list range from enlightening documentaries like My Octopus Teacher (2020) to charming rom-com classics like The Holiday (2006). —Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 4 June 2024

The great Penny Lane unpacks the history of the movement in a way that’s clever and enlightening. —Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 15 May 2024

There are countless invigorating and enlightening options out in the world! —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined above