enlightening

adjective

en·​light·​en·​ing in-ˈlīt-niŋ 

-ˈlī-tᵊn-iŋ,

en-

: providing or tending to provide knowledge, understanding, or insight

a very enlightening discussion

… he takes readers on enlightening excursions through the nature of Judaism, Hegelian philosophy, wherever his curiosity heads.

—George Johnson

enlighteningly adverb

Synonyms

• educational
• educative
• illuminating
• informational
• informative
• informatory
• instructional
• instructive

Examples of enlightening in a Sentence

an enlightening pamphlet about the major changes that consumers can expect from their cable and Internet service providers

Recent Examples on the Web

The work of the devil or an enlightening experiment at the intersection of technology and religion? —Leslie Katz, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024

To learn a bit more about VPPs, check out this enlightening video of a conversation between Brattle's Ryan Hledik and Matthew Sachs, CEO of Peak Power, a company involved with clean energy tech, including the optimization of grid-interactive buildings, bi-directional electric vehicles and more. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2024

This process has been both challenging and enlightening. —Shay Levister, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

For the sake of history, thank goodness scores of them are preserved in this enlightening and entertaining book. —Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined above