illustrate
verb
il·lus·trate
ˈi-lə-ˌstrāt 
also i-ˈlə-
illustrated; illustrating
1
a
: to provide with visual features intended to explain or decorate
illustrate a book
b
: to make clear by giving or by serving as an example or instance
c
: to make clear : clarify
2
: to show clearly : demonstrate
3
4
: to give an example or instance
Examples of illustrate in a Sentence
He illustrated his lecture with stories of his own experiences in the field.
Please give a few examples to illustrate your point.
The results illustrate how important it is to wear your seatbelt.
The students will write and illustrate their own stories.
Recent Examples on the Web
The three friends who wrote and illustrated the story felt that those three stages were the perfect way to justify the collaboration.
—
Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 July 2025
Recursion's financial results presently illustrate the conventional hurdles encountered by clinical-stage biotechnology enterprises.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
When philosophy meets contract law The Microsoft-OpenAI dispute illustrates what happens when philosophical speculation is turned into legal obligations.
—ArsTechnica, 8 July 2025
In fact, Kligman and colleagues propose, such stream deposits in other places might yield essential fossils that further illustrate how the period unfolded through millions of years.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrate
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Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 July 2025
Recursion's financial results presently illustrate the conventional hurdles encountered by clinical-stage biotechnology enterprises.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
When philosophy meets contract law The Microsoft-OpenAI dispute illustrates what happens when philosophical speculation is turned into legal obligations.
—ArsTechnica, 8 July 2025
In fact, Kligman and colleagues propose, such stream deposits in other places might yield essential fossils that further illustrate how the period unfolded through millions of years.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrate
Cite this Entry
“Illustrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illustrate. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
illustrate
verb
il·lus·trate
ˈil-əs-ˌtrāt
il-ˈəs-
illustrated; illustrating
1
: to make clear by using examples
illustrated his point with a personal experience
2
a
: to provide with pictures or diagrams intended to explain or decorate
illustrate a book
b
: to serve as an illustration
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