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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illumine
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, 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
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, 19 May 2025
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
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
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
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, 19 May 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumine
Verb
-
It should be displayed only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open, but can be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated at night, the flag code said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
14 June 2026
-
Bernal donated the bulb to the fire department in 1901 to illuminate a hose cart house, where firefighters once hitched their horses to a trolley before riding out to battle fires.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
14 June 2026
Verb
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His agent, a Ghanaian called Alex Quaye, was a banker by profession, having been educated in the United States at the University of Charleston.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
This is the fuel that feeds the future of science—new young blood coming in and getting educated and excited about the future.—
Jeanna Bryner,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Plus, tribal council is dark — there aren’t big lights, it’s only lit by fire.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
After more talk of intimate moments that occurred during the shoot, and a few anecdotes about nipples, Shaver then redirected the conversation, lighting things up in her characteristic way.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
When reconstructing the Inquisition trial of a sixteenth-century northern Italian miller, historian Carlo Ginzburg encountered a line that would eventually inspire the title of his paradigm-shifting study The Cheese and the Worms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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Though all eyes will be on North America, the national pride this event inspires – and the staggered start times that will allow fans watching back in their home countries to take in their teams during sort-of-normal hours – will stir incredible excitement and patriotism all around the world.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
Verb
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More than one person shared that Leah could brighten someone's day without even realizing it simply because kindness came so naturally to her.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
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Venus conjoins Jupiter in Cancer, brightening your 3rd House of Communication with warmth, sincerity, and useful connection.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illumine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumine. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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