illuminated 1 of 2

illuminated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of illuminate
1
2
3
as in pictorialized
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
5

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of illuminated
Adjective
Little to no moonlight can also help visibility, and Saturday night’s waning crescent will bring just that with the moon only being 3% illuminated. Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026 Taking place at Del Mar Fairgrounds, this show will blend advanced drone choreography with the unforgettable music and iconic moments from the Harry Potter film series, featuring 1,200 illuminated drones soaring across the night sky. Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026 Best Things to Do The Grandin Theatre Showing new and classic movies, The Grandin Theatre anchors the historic Grandin Village district with its dazzling art deco design and an illuminated marquee that transports visitors to the golden age of cinema. Julekha Dash, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2026 Swiss menu options are also available in the lobby lounge, and a weekly DJ enlivens the mood at Onyx Bar (so-named for the illuminated surface that makes up the bar itself). Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 The recall report states that warning signs may include an illuminated SRS warning light and a passenger airbag indicator that remains off. Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 29 May 2026 The illuminated dance floor, now iconic enough to wind up in the Smithsonian, was custom-built for roughly $15,000. Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026 Rounding things out are the 20 illuminated squares housed in the door sill guards, the seventh of which is lit red. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 May 2026 That will be the moment when its disk is exactly 50% illuminated. Joe Rao, Space.com, 22 May 2026
Verb
The unveiling will take place during Cramerton’s community-wide celebration, where the bridge over the South Fork River will be illuminated to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary — creating a vibrant focal point in the heart of the town. Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026 It should be displayed only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open, but can be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated at night, the flag code said. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2026 Both groups then illuminated the crystals with highly specialized continuous-wave vacuum ultraviolet lasers tuned near the thorium nuclear transition. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026 Open to foot traffic on Orange Avenue and Esther Street, most elements, many illuminated, can be visited 24 hours a day. R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 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 Approved by George Washington and first illuminated in 1791, the lighthouse predates Maine’s statehood and remains an active aid to navigation on the rocky coast of Maine. Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026 The coarser shades of red and orange, illuminated by the setting sun on the western portals, color the side of the basilica that depicts Christ’s Passion. Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 And there was a true sense of spectacle as lights illuminated different parts of Sagrada Família at one point during the ceremony and drones formed an image of Gaudí in the sky beside it. Claudio Lavanga, NBC news, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminated
Adjective
  • For example, swap heavy coats and boots for lighter layers and store the off-season items elsewhere.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2026
  • From the cockpit through the cabin, the Citation CJ4 Gen3 provides much more than a simple update to one of Cessna’s most storied aircraft in the light-jet category.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • 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
Verb
  • The Allman Brothers Band’s makeup illustrated the group’s sense of inclusivity.
    Steve Bloom, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026
  • The film has been inspired by Japan’s famous classical illustrated scrolls.
    Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Jones portrayed Jackson as a newcomer attempting to buy the governor’s office and highlighted his past donations to Trump critics.
    Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
  • Ralston highlighted research indicating that more than 40% of breeding permit fish, a key recreational fishery in the state, were being lost to sharks during the catch-and-release process.
    Bri Buckley, CBS News, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • The team looked inspired, and cohesive, from the start.
    Sean Gregory, Time, 13 June 2026
  • The standard wheels were replaced with large biomimetic paws inspired by the broad feet of polar bears.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
Adjective
  • Just use Dubhe and Merak, the two bright stars in the front edge of the pot of the Big Dipper, opposite the handle, as pointer stars to Polaris.
    Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 14 June 2026
  • Initial crowds were eager to watch the twisty conspiracy thriller on the biggest and brightest screens, with premium large formats representing a mighty 48% of grosses.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • Chopper 4 footage showed large flames burning through trees near the turnpike as crews lit backfires—a tactic used to extinguish a wildfire by burning fuel ahead of the approaching fire line.
    Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 19 June 2026
  • Within this structure will be latex sculptures based on guardian figures from Korean Buddhist iconography, lit in such way as to cast moving shadows across the floor and walls.
    News Desk, Artforum, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • However, Lobrillo explained, the county has, in the past, included a 2% increase annually in similar approvals.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
  • As Kristic explained, during the speculative post-Covid market, many galleries failed to consider the longer-term repercussions of raising the prices of ultra-contemporary works.
    Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 15 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Illuminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminated. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on illuminated

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster