illustrate

verb il·lus·trate \ ˈi-lə-ˌstrāt also i-ˈlə- \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Examples: illustrate in a Sentence

Definition of illustrate

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

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 of illustrate from the Web

His image remains on the pizza chain’s logo, though, illustrating the difficulty for companies closely tied to an individual’s image.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Two friends who worked at different pharmaceutical companies convicted of insider trading," 12 July 2018
Art historian Adrienne Lee is teaching a series this month to the Baby Boomer generation, illustrating how historical art themes have manifested into trending images — like memes — on the internet.

— lisa maria garza, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Rollins College class on memes explains to seniors creative ways people get 'snarky' online," 11 July 2018
Inside the park's visitors' center, a tree limb on display is riddled with shrapnel and cannonballs, illustrating how lethal the battle really was.

— CBS News, "Rooted in history: Gettysburg's "Witness Trees"," 8 July 2018
The pair eventually began working closely together, with Lee writing and providing ideas, and Ditko illustrating them.

— andrew liptak, The Verge, "Comic artist Steve Ditko, the co-creator of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, has died," 7 July 2018
Most report substantial lifestyle changes, illustrating that there’s no single best approach or quick fix—six-week diets aren’t going to cut it.

— kevin klatt, SELF, "Why Weight Loss Diets Fail," 26 June 2018
One of the Microsoft Aether group’s thought experiments illustrates the conundrum.

— jonathan vanian, Fortune, "Unmasking A.I.'s Bias Problem," 25 June 2018
That grip can also recognize degrees of intensity, which Valve illustrates by way of a squeezy-doll demo.

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "Valve revamps its next controller, should make using hands in VR feel way cooler [Updated]," 22 June 2018
The showdown came on June 14th when, in a rare step illustrating their mutual animosity, CDU and CSU MPs met separately.

— The Economist, "The politics of migration in Germany," 21 June 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1526

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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illustrate Synonyms

ILLUSTRATE Defined for English Language Learners

illustrate

verb

Definition of illustrate for English Language Learners

: 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 \

Definition of illustrate for Students

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

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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illustrate

Definition of illustrate

illustrator

Examples of illustrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of illustrate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of illustrate

illustrate Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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ILLUSTRATE Defined for English Language Learners

illustrate

Definition of illustrate for English Language Learners

ILLUSTRATE Defined for Kids

illustrate

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