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
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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
Van Gogh’s Starry Nights at NYBG Visitors can also experience the exhibit after dark at Starry Nights, when live music and lights illuminate these inspiring creations.
—
Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
For many centuries, historians assumed that in ancient times, the chamber was brightly illuminated by the Grecian sun.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025
Her immense talent will illuminate our film and will bring Nathalie’s vision to life.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 14 May 2025
Maehara was riding his electric bicycle on Merle Drive in Montebello, not far from his home, around 10 p.m. on April 29 when headlights from a car approaching him from behind illuminated his path.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
For many centuries, historians assumed that in ancient times, the chamber was brightly illuminated by the Grecian sun.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025
Her immense talent will illuminate our film and will bring Nathalie’s vision to life.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 14 May 2025
Maehara was riding his electric bicycle on Merle Drive in Montebello, not far from his home, around 10 p.m. on April 29 when headlights from a car approaching him from behind illuminated his path.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 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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But in the late 19th century, Finkelstein explained, women who'd worked as nurses during the Civil War, even though not part of the Union or Confederate armies, lobbied for and won the right to be buried at Arlington.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
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Here, again, the English translation fails to capture the historical and cultural connotations of the Persian, Bahari explained.—
Robin Wright,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
Verb
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Els took a South African passport from his jacket pocket to illustrate his pride in his country.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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The capacity to misdirect, in Biden’s case, or mislead, as happened under Trump, illustrates one of the magical features of the White House: the ability of a president to conceal himself in plain sight.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez highlighted that the vast majority—94%—of these visas were granted in connection with real estate investments in already strained housing markets, such as Madrid and Barcelona.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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This project highlights an urgent example of how the erosion of corporeal boundaries can become alarmingly dangerous.—
Jessica Simmons-Reid,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Many school districts pay private providers to educate students with special needs.—
Emilia Otte,
Hartford Courant,
30 May 2025
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The hands-on displays are designed to educate about teamwork, deduction, health care, coordination, agility and cognitive thinking, among others.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2025
Verb
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His cast includes manatees who use flatulence to control their buoyancy and cave dwelling fungus gnats that create beautiful, illuminated fly-traps from the mucus lit by their bioluminescent butts.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2025
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The Democrats are getting ready to light $20 million on fire to study their unpopularity!—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
27 May 2025
Verb
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But there’s a difference between using AI to clarify your message and asking it to invent your story.—
Dr. Aviva Legatt,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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Lawmakers in both chambers are advancing bills such as the GENIUS Act and the STABLE Act, aimed at defining stablecoins and clarifying disclosure rules.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
24 May 2025
Verb
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Pointing to Florida’s recent unwillingness to expand federal food assistance programs, U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Democrat who represents parts of Miami-Dade, emphasized that the state government cannot be counted on to pick up SNAP costs.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2025
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During his address in the Senate chamber, King Charles emphasized Canada’s independence and resilience.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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