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
as in instructive
providing useful information or knowledge
the show is an illuminating tutorial on ways to prepare popular dishes using wholesome ingredients
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in illumining
to supply with light
a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explaining
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 illustrating
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 highlighting
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 educating
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
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
The ring around the button will illuminate during the process, and a brief musical chime sounds when it’s finished.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
The gals’ night together becomes an illuminating, madcap journey, transforming their feud into friendship.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
Throughout history, parents worldwide have given their children names with this illuminating meaning.
—Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Verb
Ahead of the doc’s world premiere, Hagen talked to THR about The Roots of Madness and its timely look into the recent past in an attempt to illuminate the present and future.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
The ring around the button will illuminate during the process, and a brief musical chime sounds when it’s finished.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
In one of the novel’s most illuminating scenes, Emily explains her novel to her sisters, reaching for their worn copy of Paradise Lost to make her point.
—Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
The gals’ night together becomes an illuminating, madcap journey, transforming their feud into friendship.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
Shadows, pink-colored halos, stripes on the moon, and the incandescent glow of the streetlights turned skyward illuminating the row of rooftops populated with what looked like angels holding hands.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
Throughout history, parents worldwide have given their children names with this illuminating meaning.
—Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
Adjective
-
The Homestead Act is instructive here.—
Antony Davies,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Of those, the late, legendary Kodak photographer Neil Montanus was responsible for more than 50, which frequently were instructive, his photographer son Jim Montanus said.—
Marcia Greenwood,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The colors are informative of their composition.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Joking aside, the importance of remaining calm, collected and informative — as hard as that can be — is key when describing a situation to 911 dispatchers.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Plus, there are optional educational opportunities each week with doctors, nutritionists, physical therapists, professional coaches, and other running and walking experts.—
AJC Staff,
AJC.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Next Steps Idaho, a government resource for career and educational opportunities, recommends buying generic trash bags, cotton swabs and other items as well.—
Hali Smith
April 20,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Perhaps most consequential in this move will be the expansion of the states’ authority and responsibility for educative quality within their jurisdictions.—
Blake D. Morant,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
While apples-to-apples comparisons aren’t possible, a look at the streaming businesses is educative for identifying longer-term trends.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The new contract also included compensation for eight additional days added to the academic calendar in fall 2024 to make up for lost days from the 2022 teachers strike, even though the academic calendar has gone back to the pre-2024 number of instructional days.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
After working in special education for almost two decades, Lomblot retired in June 2023 from her position as an instructional assistant with the Abraxas adult transition program.—
Amy Stark Shireman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Links to informational slides and in some cases surveys are attached.—
Maria Benevento,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Brief flashbacks to Mary’s earlier concerts are merely informational; another flashback, to a séance at which Mary yielded to self-harming mysticism, is far more consequential, leading to violence in Sam’s studio.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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