illustrate

verb

il·​lus·​trate ˈi-lə-ˌstrāt 

 also  i-ˈlə-

illustrated; illustrating

transitive verb

1

a

: to provide with visual features intended to explain or decorate

illustrate a book

b

: to make clear by giving or by serving as an example or instance

c

: to make clear : clarify

2

: to show clearly : demonstrate

3

obsolete

a

: enlighten

b

: to light up

4

a

archaic : to make illustrious

b obsolete

(1)

: to make bright

(2)

: adorn

intransitive verb

: to give an example or instance

illustrator

ˈi-lə-ˌstrā-tər 

 also  i-ˈlə-

noun

Synonyms

• demonstrate
• exemplify
• instance

Examples of illustrate in a Sentence

He illustrated his lecture with stories of his own experiences in the field.

Please give a few examples to illustrate your point.

The results illustrate how important it is to wear your seatbelt.

The students will write and illustrate their own stories.

Recent Examples on the Web

To further illustrate, consider climbers who take on Mount Everest. —Joshua Strange, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Full House Dance 33 Years Later Complete with Outfit To illustrate her point, Barber noted that her own character offered a unique skill for the telethon: a unicycle routine. —Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024

And the lines illustrate how much of the sweetness of being is, for Valéry, the simultaneous sweetness of not being—how far the anticipation of life goes toward constituting life’s actual incarnation. —Benjamin Kunkel, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

Honest questions about food safety, illustrated Citing the cucumber recall, Schaffner says people may wonder about peeling off the wax coating. —Allison Aubrey, NPR, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin illustratus, past participle of illustrare, from in- + lustrare to purify, make bright — more at luster

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Kids Definition

illustrate

verb

il·​lus·​trate ˈil-əs-ˌtrāt 

il-ˈəs-

illustrated; illustrating

1

: to make clear by using examples

illustrated his point with a personal experience

2

a

: to provide with pictures or diagrams intended to explain or decorate

illustrate a book

b

: to serve as an illustration

illustrator

-ˌtrāt-ər 

noun