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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
how man is illuminated by a higher spirit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illuminate
The excessive talking to both strangers and a chatbot on my phone was illuminating as well as exhausting.
—
Reece Rogers, WIRED, 19 Feb. 2025
This could further illuminate the pattern of racial profiling that has been proven to plague the NYPD.
—Colleen Hamilton, Them, 19 Feb. 2025
Lights illuminate the logo of Colonel Sanders, founder of the Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurant KFC outside a branch which is next door to McDonald's restaurant, on December 24, 2024 in Taunton, England.
—Daniela Sirtori, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2025
The more niche and specific, the more fascinating and the more illuminating those stories can be.
—Athena Sobhan, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Reece Rogers, WIRED, 19 Feb. 2025
This could further illuminate the pattern of racial profiling that has been proven to plague the NYPD.
—Colleen Hamilton, Them, 19 Feb. 2025
Lights illuminate the logo of Colonel Sanders, founder of the Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurant KFC outside a branch which is next door to McDonald's restaurant, on December 24, 2024 in Taunton, England.
—Daniela Sirtori, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2025
The more niche and specific, the more fascinating and the more illuminating those stories can be.
—Athena Sobhan, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
Verb
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The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2025
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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
Verb
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Fact check: Post misrepresents satirical petition as $1 trillion offer for California Heusgen debunked the claim in the Facebook post in a Feb. 17 X post, explaining that his show of emotion was related to his retirement as chairman, not Vance's statements.—
Hannah Hudnall,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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Burkhardt explained the companies will assess the reception of Canada Goose’s debut eyewear collection and take those learnings to apply to future launches.—
Layla Ilchi,
WWD,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The meal took guests through four culinary seasons, illustrating the passage of time—an essential element in making great whisky.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
26 Feb. 2025
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There are numerous examples that scholars and researchers have come up with to help illustrate the DDE.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The clip's overlaid text highlights the owner's thoughtful decision to remove the bed frame, allowing the aging pet to climb onto the bed with ease.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
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Season 3 of the Netflix documentary series — which dropped on Feb. 25 — highlights some of the world's greatest golf stars in both their personal and professional lives.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Stanford educated Soubhik Dawn, a two-time founder and seasoned product management professional, understands the abyss that confronts many job seekers.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
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The program works to educate kids on physical fitness and healthy eating while providing necessary equipment like running shoes for low-income households.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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By that logic, try lighting a candle after spritzing the mist to layer home scents.—
Jenny Berg,
Allure,
20 Feb. 2025
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Heater Won't Ignite A gas heating system will typically have an electronic ignition that lights the pilot light, which in turn lights the main flame to generate heat.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, the fertility clinic has not been able to clarify what exactly happened to her own embryo—there’s a chance that it was mistakenly implanted in another person as well.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
19 Feb. 2025
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Yes, but: A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson clarified that Homan was referring only to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests.—
Jeremy Duda,
Axios,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Ford values the artistry of performance over commercial considerations, emphasizing the impact of storytelling and giving back through both time and resources.—
Elizabeth Stanton,
Fox News,
21 Feb. 2025
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To remake the roster, Brennan and Arizona emphasized production in this past portal cycle.—
Antonio Morales,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to illuminate
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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