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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
how man is illuminated by a higher spirit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illuminate
Within these nearly three dozen documents are a bunch of curious, surprising, and illuminating things about this year’s Emmy hopefuls.
—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
20 June 2026
Leavenworth is best visited during one of its most festive times, like Oktoberfest and the winter months, especially at Christmas, when over half a million lights illuminate the town and there are holiday events galore from markets to gingerbread contests.
—
Zoe Baillargeon,
Travel + Leisure,
20 June 2026
God, this shot of all the kids on the street illuminated by their iPads is quite moving.
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Emma Specter,
Vogue,
19 June 2026
Worn alone, Missha’s illuminating cream delivers youthful, natural-looking radiance.
—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
20 June 2026
Leavenworth is best visited during one of its most festive times, like Oktoberfest and the winter months, especially at Christmas, when over half a million lights illuminate the town and there are holiday events galore from markets to gingerbread contests.
—
Zoe Baillargeon,
Travel + Leisure,
20 June 2026
God, this shot of all the kids on the street illuminated by their iPads is quite moving.
—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
19 June 2026
Worn alone, Missha’s illuminating cream delivers youthful, natural-looking radiance.
—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
19 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.
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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.
Verb
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Watching the hearing via Zoom from a prison holding room, Powell wiped his eyes and sighed heavily as Cribbs once again recited the facts of the case before Judge Rachelle Carnesale, explaining when Walton was fatally shot.
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When the Dodgers played here last month, a fan posted a picture of the menu board and explained what FTD stood for.
Verb
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During the preference sheet meeting, the major difference in Kayley and Genevieve’s attitudes is perfectly illustrated.
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The scale of the fund, and the involvement of multiple international partners, illustrates Abu Dhabi’s ambition to use AI to help diversify its economy, and its credibility as an investor.
Verb
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The 5-star analyst highlighted that Pinterest has delivered double-digit global user growth for ten consecutive quarters, with his May data analysis indicating particular momentum in the second quarter of 2026.
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This week's quiz highlights cruise controversies, wedding whispers — and much more.
Verb
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Originally established to support anonymous crime-tip programs, the event has grown to help fund specialized equipment for local law enforcement, provide youth scholarships and educate participants about crime prevention efforts in the community.
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Its job is to educate the public, adopt regulations and investigate, audit and penalize businesses that mishandle personal information.
Verb
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No video evidence exists to show exactly how the Lachman fire started, much less that Rinderknecht was the one who lit the blaze.
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Opt for sconces and hanging lights, rather than lamps or lighting pieces that take up floorspace.
Verb
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In addition to clarifying one claim, NYT also agreed to voluntarily dismiss two claims of contributory copyright infringement and trademark dilution against all defendants.
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Rich Bornstein, founder of Bornstein Media, helps leaders clarify their story before the camera turns on.
Verb
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While the community effort is significant, volunteers emphasized that more specialized support is required to address the scale of the crisis.
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Reynolds instead emphasizes that Puritans (and Quakers) framed the earliest antislavery arguments in the English-speaking world.
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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