1
as in to illumine
to supply with light
a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely
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Relevance
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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
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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
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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
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5
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
how man is illuminated by a higher spirit
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of illuminate
At the heart of the celebrations is Patti’s Festival of Lights, a beloved annual event that illuminates the town with over 1.5 million sparkling lights.
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Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 5 Dec. 2024
Think: strolls under canopies of Spanish Moss trees illuminated by a voluptuous scarlet moon.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Christmas trees have been illuminated from Brussels to Hong Kong.
—Staff and Wire Reports, Orange County Register, 3 Dec. 2024
The full moon in Taurus on November 15 illuminates your fourth house of home, which encourages you to make necessary changes to your living situation or emotional foundations in order to move forward later on.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for illuminate 
Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 5 Dec. 2024
Think: strolls under canopies of Spanish Moss trees illuminated by a voluptuous scarlet moon.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Christmas trees have been illuminated from Brussels to Hong Kong.
—Staff and Wire Reports, Orange County Register, 3 Dec. 2024
The full moon in Taurus on November 15 illuminates your fourth house of home, which encourages you to make necessary changes to your living situation or emotional foundations in order to move forward later on.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
Verb
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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
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In a room illumined by the light of a few candles, a group of women with veils over their faces conducts a séance.Rhoda Feng, ARTnews.com, 9 Aug. 2024
Verb
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This may explain the presence of the porcelain bowl fragment found on Mount Zion.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 15 Dec. 2024
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The star explained that exercising routinely was necessary because her body had to be conditioned for the flying stunts.Latoya Gayle, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024
Verb
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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
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To further illustrate, consider climbers who take on Mount Everest.Joshua Strange, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The stories of Shawn Carter and Sean Combs highlight the American dream: One hailing from Brooklyn and the other from Harlem, the two men, then in their 20s, took the next step in jumpstarting their empires.Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
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The historic achievement highlights Jefferson’s impact since entering the league in 2020, although his two-score performance did end a run of six weeks without a touchdown for the 25-year-old.Ben Morse, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Monthly workshops on children’s vision care, for instance, not only educate parents but also create valuable touchpoints for patient engagement and practice growth.Dr Chibuzor Uwadi, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
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In addition to its VFX work, DGX was launched with the intention of expanding into complementary verticals, including the launch of an Animation Academy to educate and train future talents.Jamie Lang, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Burning wood and lighting fireworks can raise smoke concentrations.Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
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Make lighting the shamash candle easier with this clever electric lighter.Cai Cramer, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This serves as a critical reminder to prepare thoroughly—by asking the right questions, clarifying expectations, and planning strategically—to make the most of their leave while balancing personal and professional priorities.Christine Michel Carter, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
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Authorities did not clarify when the Facebook threats were made, but both schools — and the entire Clearview Local School District — were closed on Thursday, Dec. 12, as the sheriff’s office and FBI searched for explosives.Bailey Richards, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Apart Smart Air Technology's app emphasizes gathering more data, using less material, and reducing labor costs, aiming to offer greater benefits than existing systems.Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
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Jenkins emphasizes the pair’s intimacy with close-up shots of their expressive faces and their bodies while playfully jostling or conspiring to prank the adults.Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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