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illustrate

verb il·lus·trate \ ˈi-lə-ˌstrāt also i-ˈlə- \
|Updated on: 5 Jul 2018
illustrated; illustrating
transitive verb
1 obsolete
a : enlighten
b : to light up
2 a archaic : to make illustrious
b obsolete
(1) : to make bright
(2) : adorn
3 a : to make clear : clarify
b : to make clear by giving or by serving as an example or instance
c : to provide with visual features intended to explain or decorate
  • illustrate a book
4 : to show clearly : demonstrate
intransitive verb
: to give an example or instance
—

illustrator

play \ˈi-lə-ˌstrā-tər also i-ˈlə-\ noun

See illustrate defined for English-language learners

See illustrate defined for kids

Examples of illustrate in a Sentence

  1. He illustrated his lecture with stories of his own experiences in the field.

  2. Please give a few examples to illustrate your point.

  3. The results illustrate how important it is to wear your seatbelt.

  4. The students will write and illustrate their own stories.

Recent Examples of illustrate from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'illustrate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of illustrate

Latin illustratus, past participle of illustrare, from in- + lustrare to purify, make bright — more at luster

illustrate Synonyms

Synonyms

clarify, clear (up), construe, demonstrate, demystify, elucidate, explain, explicate, expound, get across, illuminate, interpret, simplify, spell out, unriddle;

Antonyms

obscure;

Near Antonyms

befog, cloud;

confound, confuse, obfuscate;

Related Words

decipher, decode;

analyze, break down;

disentangle, undo, unravel, unscramble, untangle;

resolve, solve;

define, specify;

annotate, commentate, gloss;

ILLUSTRATE Defined for English Language Learners

illustrate

verb

  • : to give examples in order to make (something) easier to understand

  • : to be proof or evidence of (something)

  • : to explain or decorate a story, book, etc., with pictures

ILLUSTRATE Defined for Kids

illustrate

verb il·lus·trate \ ˈi-lə-ˌstrāt \
illustrated; illustrating
1 : to supply with pictures or diagrams meant to explain or decorate
  • illustrate a book
2 : to make clear by using examples
  • She illustrated her point with stories.
3 : to serve as an example
  • The results illustrate the need for planning.

Learn More about illustrate

  1. See words that rhyme with illustrate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for illustrate Spanish Central: Translation of illustrate Nglish: Translation of illustrate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of illustrate for Arabic speakers

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