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
Unimaginable — time — measured by a pendulum of light, illuminating the splendor of one of the greatest marvels on, or under, the Earth.
—
Nicole Young, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
The crumbling industrial scenery by Riccardo Hernández is visually stunning and versatile, and it’s gorgeously illuminated by lighting designer Robert Wierzel.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
The glow of hundreds of candles illuminated somber faces, sobs often cutting through the silence in the crisp spring air.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
Once stationary, turn off all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
—Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Nicole Young, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
The crumbling industrial scenery by Riccardo Hernández is visually stunning and versatile, and it’s gorgeously illuminated by lighting designer Robert Wierzel.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
The glow of hundreds of candles illuminated somber faces, sobs often cutting through the silence in the crisp spring air.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
Once stationary, turn off all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
—Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
Verb
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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
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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,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Using a synesthetic logic all his own, Torres explains why Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson is orange, Catholicism is purple, and navy blue is the nefarious color that secretly runs the world.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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For an overview of small business tax responsibilities, see IRS Publication 583, which explains general filing and recordkeeping requirements.—
Nancy Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The war in Iran and bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz is further illustrating the need to integrate newer tools into modern warfare.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
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In the interview, Warsh illustrated this with a story from 2006, when he was nominated to the Fed’s Board of Governors and sought advice from former chair Paul Volcker.—
Paul Wachtel,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Photos highlight artist performances, fan reactions and standout moments from the Main Stage, Worldwide Stage, Megastructure, The Cove, Live Stage, UMF Radio and Oasis, with major sets from Steve Aoki, Hardwell, Carl Cox, Armin Van Buuren and others drawing some of the day’s biggest crowds.—
Miami Herald newsroom,
Miami Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
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Welcome to the Friday, March 27, 2026, private school baseball and softball edition of the Fastball, a Star-Telegram series highlighting Fort Worth-area teams.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One floor underground is a labyrinth of snazzy, high-tech equipment designed to bio-hack, educate and optimize performance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On Tuesday evening, City Hall was lit in the Transgender Pride flag colors — light pink, baby blue and white.—
Angela Palermo
April 1,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Birdfy misses most often when a bird is too close to the camera, poorly lit, or facing away from the camera.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Stepping outside your everyday life has a way of clarifying what actually matters, and returning home with fresh eyes often makes the decisions that felt tough seem far more manageable.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
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Start by clarifying priorities and boundaries this morning, then build steady momentum through the afternoon as support gathers and timing clicks into place.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Not long after October 7th, on a Zoom call with more than a hundred influential figures in Hollywood, Brous emphasized her profound sympathy for Israelis; two board members at her synagogue had relatives in Israel who’d been killed or kidnapped by Hamas.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Writers said the article emphasized findings that were subjective and susceptible to bias.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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