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
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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
The third quarter moon (Aug. 16) The passing of the full moon will see the terminator return to sweep over the eastern limb of the lunar surface until, finally, on Aug. 16, the third quarter moon will rise, with its right half bathed in shadow and its left illuminated by direct sunlight.
—
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2025
The full moon in your sign on the 12th should illuminate any relationships that may need to evolve, change, or end in your life.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2025
Boggs illuminates the writer’s life through four key formative relationships, intimate or creative: the painter Beauford Delaney, his lover in Paris Lucien Happersberger, the Turkish actor Engin Cezzar, and the French artist Yoran Cazac.
—Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025
Venus enters Cancer on July 30th, illuminating your public image and long-term goals.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2025
The full moon in your sign on the 12th should illuminate any relationships that may need to evolve, change, or end in your life.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2025
Boggs illuminates the writer’s life through four key formative relationships, intimate or creative: the painter Beauford Delaney, his lover in Paris Lucien Happersberger, the Turkish actor Engin Cezzar, and the French artist Yoran Cazac.
—Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025
Venus enters Cancer on July 30th, illuminating your public image and long-term goals.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
Verb
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Rev 21:10), an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world.—
Daniel Burke,
NPR,
9 May 2025
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The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Month: Delta denies using AI to come up with inflated, personalized prices Delta finally explains how its AI pricing works amid ongoing backlash.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
6 Aug. 2025
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The grandmother explained that the family had called first responders after her daughter had taken the her granddaughter’s phone away, and the child became emotionally upset.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But the past 11 games have illustrated how the Padres are at their best.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
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Radiohead’s performance on charts all around the world throughout 2025 illustrates the power of virality in today’s music industry.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Topline Elon Musk attacked Apple in a series of posts on X, accusing the iPhone-maker of refusing to highlight his social media platform and AI chatbot Grok on the App Store and boosting his rival and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI’s products instead.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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At the same time, the report highlights a sharp decline in the desirability of open office layouts.—
Gleb Tsipursky,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Born in 1972 in Agrigento in Sicily, Barba was educated at the Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
6 Aug. 2025
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Altogether, 467 Wisconsin schools that educate more than 80% of the state's high school juniors are signed up this year.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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While there are a few common threads among all the Shabbat clubs in this story, like lighting candles and eating meals together, there are other elements that set each group apart.—
Sophie Liza Cannon,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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There was a fire lit in the nursery, and the table was laid with three choices of cake.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Earlier this year, Nipsey Hussle’s brother, Blacc Sam, revealed that his first posthumous album is set to be released this year, and clarified that only certain music from the slain artist would ever see the light of day.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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The researchers did not clarify whether breaking down brain glycogen could stop human brain cells from dying, Okun noted.—
Shiv Sudhakar,
FOXNews.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Ethereum draws its strength from a strong developer community that emphasizes strengthening the network’s infrastructure.—
Lawrence Wintermeyer,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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In contrast to other, more mainstream Civil Rights organizations, SNCC leaders began to emphasize Black separatism, which alienated white participants.—
Time,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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