1
as in to illuminate
to supply with light
small table lamps illumine the inn's dining room in a most romantic way
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
readers of great literature are both entertained and illumined
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of illumine
The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.
—
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
The bar was illumined by candles and an uplit line of mostly esoteric liquors along the full-length mirror against the back wall.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2024
In a room illumined by the light of a few candles, a group of women with veils over their faces conducts a séance.
—Rhoda Feng, ARTnews.com, 9 Aug. 2024
First a dazzling light show that illumined the arena in a constellation of purple.
—NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024
Hung’s defense of artistic passion starts with the human touch, then illumines our basic needs and spiritual appetite.
—Armond White, National Review, 9 Feb. 2024
The papaya-pulp glow of sodium lights on a remote station’s platform revealed the denizens of the wayside: disused open-top hoppers, empty coil cars, corroded gondolas, a modest village in the distance illumined by weak-yellow streetlamps.
—Mark Orwoll, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2023
There was in the Registry, besides, her portrait, painted by an artist of the time in the conventional style of the time: haloed, illumined, awestruck eyes fixed upward to the heavens.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
The bar was illumined by candles and an uplit line of mostly esoteric liquors along the full-length mirror against the back wall.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2024
In a room illumined by the light of a few candles, a group of women with veils over their faces conducts a séance.
—Rhoda Feng, ARTnews.com, 9 Aug. 2024
First a dazzling light show that illumined the arena in a constellation of purple.
—NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024
Hung’s defense of artistic passion starts with the human touch, then illumines our basic needs and spiritual appetite.
—Armond White, National Review, 9 Feb. 2024
The papaya-pulp glow of sodium lights on a remote station’s platform revealed the denizens of the wayside: disused open-top hoppers, empty coil cars, corroded gondolas, a modest village in the distance illumined by weak-yellow streetlamps.
—Mark Orwoll, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2023
There was in the Registry, besides, her portrait, painted by an artist of the time in the conventional style of the time: haloed, illumined, awestruck eyes fixed upward to the heavens.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumine
Verb
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Another recent progress photo taken on April 14 using one of the live webcams on site captured the bright Milky Way flowing above the telescope's dome, illuminated by stars shining in the night sky.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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The scariest episode of this Doctor Who season also was an illuminating one, for showrunner Russell T Davies.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This free forum will help educate the community on the probate process and available resources available to start estate planning efforts.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Apr. 2025
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The initiative: The film highlights a specific local program called Galapagos Infinito, designed to educate tweens from the area about their island home.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
As a first-time candidate, Trump lit the GOP field on fire with his heterodox presidential campaign, while Rubio at one point represented the last, best hope for the establishment Republican Party.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
2 May 2025
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Still, this season feels a lot like lighting a firecracker fuse, standing back, and… and… and… ah dang it this one’s a dud.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
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Known for supporting individuals with autism — an effort inspired by his son, Jonathan — Eichenholz is using the house in part to support Jonathan’s Landing Foundation, which seeks to create housing for 500 people and 5,000 jobs to help adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).—
Laura Kinsler,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2025
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This is a great opportunity for communities to honor the country’s past, celebrate its present, and inspire its future through events and video storytelling.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
Verb
-
Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus Hair Dryer and Styler Best Amazon Skincare Deals Restock your skincare collection while this popular neck cream, brightening micellar water, and more favorites are marked down.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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On annual planting days, the garden club ladies brought plants into the city and joined residents in planting and installing window boxes to brighten up their neighborhood blocks.—
Sonja Dümpelmann,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illumine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumine. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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