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
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 illuminate
Ahmed’s electrifying turn illuminates the text, carefully honed by Lesslie.
—
Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Throughout history, parents worldwide have given their children names with this illuminating meaning.
—Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 10 Apr. 2026
An easel floor lamp by Angelo Lelii from Donzella illuminates Rodolfo Abularach’s painting Elena from Joe Sheftel Art & Advising.
—David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 10 Apr. 2026
Hang it from a shepherd hook to illuminate walkways with vibrant hues, or use it as a centerpiece for your patio dining set.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Throughout history, parents worldwide have given their children names with this illuminating meaning.
—Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 10 Apr. 2026
An easel floor lamp by Angelo Lelii from Donzella illuminates Rodolfo Abularach’s painting Elena from Joe Sheftel Art & Advising.
—David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 10 Apr. 2026
Hang it from a shepherd hook to illuminate walkways with vibrant hues, or use it as a centerpiece for your patio dining set.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
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
-
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
-
Mariam explained that she’d been admitted to Bronx Science through a program called Discovery, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds whose test scores fell just below the school’s cutoff line.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Could the seizures explain Al-Hashimi’s moments of forgetfulness that Robby has been curious about during his shift?—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
City’s second goal, which in effect ended the game, illustrated both.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Through a blend of archival recordings and contemporary interviews, the series illustrates how the church became a sanctuary for its community, honoring both their faith and queerness while fostering joy and connection during a time of profound grief.—
Patrick Hipes,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wall Street analysts have highlighted that dollar dominance is anchored by the greenback’s use as the standard currency in the global oil trade.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Welcome to the Friday, April 10, 2026, private school baseball and softball edition of the Fastball, a Star-Telegram series highlighting Fort Worth-area teams.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Signs educate guests on the process of how the agave is fermented with yeast in large tanks and wooden vats.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The path to the door should be clear, safe, and well-lit, and the house numbers easily visible from the street.—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Apr. 2026
-
There was no phone signal, no passing cars, no house lights for at least thirty miles.—
Douglas Stuart,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The administration committee clarified key category placements that could have an effect this year’s contenders.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Neither Shelbayh, the tournament nor the police have clarified what Shelbayh alleged to have been said to him.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Others emphasized that customers rely on hemp products for far more than recreation.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Additional marketing themes for the 2026 models emphasize staying connected through every stage of your journey, and highlight the Lincoln Nautilus as a premium 2 row midsize luxury SUV as a quiet driving sanctuary on 4 wheels.—
Tony Leopardo,
Mercury News,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
