Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

illuminating

play
adjective il·lu·mi·nat·ing \ i-ˈlü-mə-ˌnā-tiŋ \

Definition of illuminating

:providing insight, clarity, or understanding :highly informative
  • an illuminating remark/discussion
  • … much of the information is quite illuminating …
  • —Glenn Kenny
—

illuminatingly

adverb

Explore M-W

image2143067130
9 Slang Words With Academic Origins
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066
stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!
alt-59c13729150dc
"Immune to" or "Immune from"?

First Known Use of illuminating

1644

illuminating Synonyms

Synonyms
educational, educative, enlightening, informative, informational, informatory, instructional, instructive
Antonyms
unenlightening, unilluminating, uninformative, uninstructive
Related Words
comprehensive, copious, detailed, full; communicatory, edifying, elucidative, explanatory; chatty, gossipy, newsy; availing, beneficial, constructive, helpful, profitable; practical, serviceable, usable (also useable), useful, worthwhile
Near Antonyms
impractical, unhelpful, unusable, useless

Learn More about illuminating

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for illuminating Nglish: Translation of illuminating for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of illuminating for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up illuminating? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

glabrous

play

smooth or hairless

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. bodega "Don’t mess with the beloved bodega."

  2. carceral Of, relating to, or suggesting a jail or prison

  3. allegory No spoilers!

  4. hurricane 'A tropical cyclone'

  5. rescind To take away; cancel; repeal

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59c13729150dc
"Immune to" or "Immune from"?

Nobody is immune to this question.

alt-59bff395cf879
What's Going On With 'Nonplussed'?

Its recent usage is hard to shrug off.

alt-59bad350d88f1
Welcome to the New Words

From 'hive mind' to 'sriracha'

image2143067130
9 Slang Words With Academic Origins

Class is in session.

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

Take the quiz
name-that-color-logo
Name that Color!

NEW! Additional colors! More obscure than before!

Take the quiz
Spell It
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game