illuminating

adjective

il·​lu·​mi·​nat·​ing i-ˈlü-mə-ˌnā-tiŋ How to pronounce illuminating (audio)
: providing insight, clarity, or understanding : highly informative
an illuminating remark/discussion
… much of the information is quite illuminatingGlenn 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
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.
These two parts are juxtaposed with a third, the remarkable photo essay that runs the length of the book, in always fascinating, illuminating, at times devastating, relation to the prose. Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025 Equally illuminating are the candid, often unflattering, reflections of his exes (including Isabella Rossellini) and daughters, who for decades took a back seat to his art-making and addictions. Judy Berman, Time, 30 Oct. 2025 That tape, which takes up the last two discs of Through the Open Window, is also unexpectedly illuminating. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2025 The deep dive into Chaplin’s working methods is compelling and illuminating, and the shooting script itself shows that the always politically and philosophically probing Chaplin hadn’t lost any of his fire or originality in his old age. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for illuminating

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of illuminate entry 1

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of illuminating was in 1644

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Cite this Entry

“Illuminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illuminating. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.

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