enlighten

verb

in-ˈlī-tᵊn How to pronounce enlighten (audio)
Definition of enlightennext
1
as in to inform
to give information to the lecturer at the planetarium enlightened us about the latest astronomical discoveries

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding many people around the world have been enlightened by the teachings of Gautama Buddha

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of enlighten On the other hand, those who make it are upheld as virtuous and enlightened. — Adam Chandler, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025 Each experience enlightened me to the Canadian take on Asian immigrants and culture, in a way that felt simple and accepting. — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2025 Not to foreshadow the end of Dellinger, but there was this great message that the enlightened are not welcome here. — Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Jan. 2025 Thank you, Dan, for enlightening readers with your bird’s eye views of Maryland whether the view was from a nearby Baltimore stoop or the more distant wild and scenic Youghiogheny River in Western Maryland. — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enlighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlighten
  1. inform
  2. educate
  3. tell
  4. inspire
  5. advise
  6. instruct
Verb
  • According to Kang, investment in innovative projects should inform how the company should move forward.
    — Jessica Mendoza, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • That will inform many of your decisions and pivots.
    — Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of inform
Verb
  • Literacy was seen as a major factor in pre-war slave unrest, and attempts to educate Southern Blacks were greeted with everything from suspicion to violent opposition.
    — Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Mercedes also has an easier audience to sell EVs to -- their customers are educated and more willing to try new things.
    — Morgan Korn, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of educate
Verb
  • Marvel Studios‘ clever live five-hour-plus announcement of the cast of Avengers: Doomsday was their biggest livestream, bigger than any premiere red carpet, pulling in 275M digital views we’re told and 3.1M social mentions.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
  • National Border Patrol Council Vice President Hector Garza told Fox News Digital that these videos on TikTok and other social media outlets are nothing new, but feels that the Trump administration is taking the videos seriously and actively working to secure the border.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of tell
Verb
  • Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple.
    — Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Directed and co-written by Jean-Stéphane Bron, the original and spirited fiction series, the high-stakes real life drama-thriller, is inspired by real life last-chance talks in 2015 between the U.S. and Iran over the latter’s nuclear program, talks held in Geneva.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of inspire
Verb
  • The affected vehicles include: 2020 to 2021 S90 2020 to 2022 S60 2020 to 2022 V60 2020 to 2022 XC60 2020 to 2022 XC90 2022 V90 Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed.
    — James Powel, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The Pope, 88, has been advised to rest following his 38-day hospital stay.
    — Simon Perry, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of advise
Verb
  • Stewart said that part of the initiative is a social media campaign instructing individuals to post a picture of themselves wearing the T-shirt or hoodie on Monday paired with the hashtags #EveryoneIsWelcome, #InclusiveIdaho, or #WestAdaSchools.
    — Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 22 Mar. 2025
  • At one point during the convention when support seemed at low ebb, Wilson sent McCombs a note instructing him to withdraw Wilson's name from consideration, but McCombs pocketed the note without taking action.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of instruct

Browse Nearby Words

enlarging (on or upon)
enlighten
enlightened
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enlighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlighten. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on enlighten

Nglish: Translation of enlighten for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
kestrel
Name That Bird Quiz Are you as wise as an owl or just another birdbrain?
See All