1
as in to illumine
to supply with light
a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to explain
to make plain or understandable
the museum's exhibit on the refraction of light really illuminated the subject for us
Synonyms & Similar Words
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3
as in to illustrate
to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration
no one knows for sure the identity of the artist who illuminated that medieval manuscript so beautifully
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to highlight
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
the results of the statewide testing illuminated the need to place more focus on instruction in math and science
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
how man is illuminated by a higher spirit
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illuminate
And for a while, the rest of the world joined us, using rainbow lights to illuminate everything from the Eiffel Tower to Sydney’s Harbour Bridge.
—
Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Some will envision the sun glistening off downtown’s skyline or illuminating the city’s verdant tree canopy.
—Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 12 June 2026
Available in eight varieties—including a sunkissed bronze, illuminating rose-gold, and an untinted SPF 30 option that primes and protects—there’s an option for every occasion.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 12 June 2026
In less than a minute, her phone synced to the device and illuminated a line chart that would measure her blood sugar for 14 days.
—Noelle Harff, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Some will envision the sun glistening off downtown’s skyline or illuminating the city’s verdant tree canopy.
—Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 12 June 2026
Available in eight varieties—including a sunkissed bronze, illuminating rose-gold, and an untinted SPF 30 option that primes and protects—there’s an option for every occasion.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 12 June 2026
In less than a minute, her phone synced to the device and illuminated a line chart that would measure her blood sugar for 14 days.
—Noelle Harff, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
Verb
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Fantastic, illumined by periodic excursions into surrealism, as when the crew of a mysterious UFO boards a transpacific Kahuna Airlines jet midflight.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Geraldine walked over to Felix and Jane’s for fish soup, through long autumn shadows in the park, haze rising like smoke from the grass, illumined by the low sun.—
Tessa Hadley,
New Yorker,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Thune has repeatedly explained that the bill, which Democrats and a handful of Republicans oppose, does not have the votes to pass in the Senate.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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The Logan star also explains how the strenuousness of the fight scenes doubled as an artistic choice.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Woods illustrates Sylvia’s sorrow through flashbacks to her daughter, Nadia (Olivia Edward as a teenager, Emma Farnell-Watson as an adult), who was a ballet dancer.—
Natalia Winkelman,
Variety,
16 June 2026
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Govia said the attack seems to illustrate an underlying issue in society right now.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Verb
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The November killing of Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the popular mayor of Uruapan, Michoacan, highlighted dangers for politicians who stand up to cartels and criminal groups.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
-
Yosemite National Park was designated by Congress to highlight the beautiful natural and cultural features of the area.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
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His agent, a Ghanaian called Alex Quaye, was a banker by profession, having been educated in the United States at the University of Charleston.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Plus, tribal council is dark — there aren’t big lights, it’s only lit by fire.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
16 June 2026
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After more talk of intimate moments that occurred during the shoot, and a few anecdotes about nipples, Shaver then redirected the conversation, lighting things up in her characteristic way.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Weeks later, Roach amended the order to clarify that cellphones would be prohibited in the courtroom.—
Matthew Davisson,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
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If feedback stings, breathe, then ask one clarifying question so everyone understands your intent.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
19 June 2026
Verb
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The jury agreed and convicted Thomas of manslaughter instead of murder, with some jurors emphasizing the role of his addiction.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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Salaviza described the short form as a pure mode of expression in which authentic emotion is fundamental, while von Döhren – drawing on her parallel career as an illustrator – emphasized how effectively the format can convey feeling through storytelling.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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