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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
how man is illuminated by a higher spirit
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illuminate
Researchers have discovered an extraordinary underwater cache of shipwrecks across 328 feet of seafloor in northeastern Libya, illuminating a once-thriving ancient port.
—
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
However, the film itself does little to illuminate why, or to expand the story as most people with an internet connection already understand it.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
That’s illuminated in more than the record.
—Sam McDowell March 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2026
But the data centers will be in high-inclination orbits and will be fully illuminated by sunlight even as seen from the ground at midnight.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
However, the film itself does little to illuminate why, or to expand the story as most people with an internet connection already understand it.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
That’s illuminated in more than the record.
—Sam McDowell March 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2026
But the data centers will be in high-inclination orbits and will be fully illuminated by sunlight even as seen from the ground at midnight.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
Verb
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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.—
Tessa Hadley,
New Yorker,
25 Jan. 2026
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These fruits are tiny stars, planets in arm’s reach, little moons reddened by desire and cunning, the sun, at each step, illumines the petals of the dogwood flowers, their bright yellow is dimmed by no leaf, on their still-bare branches the first fissure in winter opens up by magic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Naturally, Farke was not about to reveal his hand in a press conference, but explained what will go through his mind ahead of Saturday evening.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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And her book goes a long way in explaining why.—
Alexander Kaplan,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The annual calculation requirement also provides clarity about how electric rates change over time, serving as a transparency measure by illustrating the rise in rates.—
Jason Buckel,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Mar. 2026
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The glowing bridge was made possible by a public art grant, illustrating Ankeny’s commitment to culture in addition to first-rate schools, public parks, and a high standard of living.—
Amelia Mularz,
Architectural Digest,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Down 79-67, Johnson and Jokic engineered a 9-0 run highlighted by a Jokic 4-point play, interception and fast-break dunk in quick succession.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
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These results highlight that classical computational chemistry methods remain surprisingly competitive, and in some cases could outperform quantum approaches, even with perfect quantum hardware.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Clara Moskowitz,
Scientific American,
17 Mar. 2026
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Salon professionals can end up spending significant money on products and time educating clients, only to see little to no ROI in return.—
Kelley Swing,
Rolling Stone,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Police are advising businesses in the area to keep their property lit, immediately repair any broken windows or locks, and, if available, save a copy of any surveillance video for detectives.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
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Bring a flashlight, as the surrounding area is mostly pitch black and the park roads are not lit.—
Ben Davidson,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Your 7th House of Devotion lights up as the emotional Moon enters Aries, bringing chances to clarify expectations with someone important in your life.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Mar. 2026
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Authorities later clarified the noise came from individuals smashing water bottles on the beach.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And in some cases, CEOs have less authority, as flatter organizations emphasize collaboration over top-down decision-making.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
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Rather than chronological or geographical groupings, Barnes emphasized formal relationships of light, line, and color across cultures and time periods.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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