il·lu·mi·nate
i-ˈlü-mə-ˌnāt 
illuminated; illuminating
1
a(1)
: to supply or brighten with light
(2)
: to make luminous or shining
b
: to enlighten spiritually or intellectually
c
: to subject to radiation
d
archaic
: to set alight
2
3
: to make illustrious or resplendent
4
: to decorate (something, such as a manuscript) with gold or silver or brilliant colors or with often elaborate designs or miniature pictures
il·lu·mi·nate
i-ˈlü-mə-nət
1
archaic
: brightened with light
2
archaic
: intellectually or spiritually enlightened
il·lu·mi·nate
i-ˈlü-mə-nət
archaic
: one having or claiming unusual enlightenment
Examples of illuminate in a Sentence
Verb
the part of the moon illuminated by the sun
A university study has illuminated the problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
John Werner, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
This philosophy illuminates why Vaz’s long-term goals are focused on professional success and meaningful community impact.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
This effect occurs because Earth's atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths of sunlight while allowing longer wavelengths — red and orange light — to bend into Earth's shadow and illuminate the moon.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2025
The physics of celestial explosions is surprisingly similar to that of the tin-plasma bursts [right] used to illuminate chips in lithography machines, despite drastically different scales: tens of light years for the supernovas versus tens of millimeters for the tin plasma.
—Jayson Stewart, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
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Verb
This was really illuminating in terms of geopolitical outcomes and the impact on business across borders.
—John Werner, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
This philosophy illuminates why Vaz’s long-term goals are focused on professional success and meaningful community impact.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
This effect occurs because Earth's atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths of sunlight while allowing longer wavelengths — red and orange light — to bend into Earth's shadow and illuminate the moon.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2025
The physics of celestial explosions is surprisingly similar to that of the tin-plasma bursts [right] used to illuminate chips in lithography machines, despite drastically different scales: tens of light years for the supernovas versus tens of millimeters for the tin plasma.
—Jayson Stewart, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
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Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illuminate. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
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