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
Gatsby simply couldn’t have existed without Long Island, and the prominence of the novel’s location was noted from the day of publication, as Anne Margaret Daniel illustrates in her article on the author and his relationship with the New Yorker magazine.
—
JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
The footage illustrates the easy trust and solidarity among the various parents, who appeared to have a tacit agreement that the neighborhood more or less belonged to the kids.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
As its name illustrates, Salt Lake City exists because of the Great Salt Lake.
—Big Think, 17 Oct. 2025
To illustrate Renoir’s creative process, several of his major paintings will be reunited with and displayed alongside their related drawings.
—Jane Levere, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrate
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JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
The footage illustrates the easy trust and solidarity among the various parents, who appeared to have a tacit agreement that the neighborhood more or less belonged to the kids.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
As its name illustrates, Salt Lake City exists because of the Great Salt Lake.
—Big Think, 17 Oct. 2025
To illustrate Renoir’s creative process, several of his major paintings will be reunited with and displayed alongside their related drawings.
—Jane Levere, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 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 24 Oct. 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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