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
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 illuminate
Five palpably tense hours of questioning illuminated very little about what, if anything, Chew can do to quell lawmakers' fears.
—
Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 17 Jan. 2025
Early on Thursday mornings — just as daybreak’s hues of pink and orange illuminate the sky — the grounds of Mt. Zion Restoration Church transform into one of the largest hubs of resources for low-income and unhoused people in Gaston County.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025
Mars will be fully illuminated by the sun, providing the best viewing conditions from Earth.
—Carlie Procell, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
The full moon in Cancer on the 13th, however, will bring the focus back to your eighth house of intimate affairs, illuminating the emotional foundation of your one-on-one connections.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for illuminate 
Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 17 Jan. 2025
Early on Thursday mornings — just as daybreak’s hues of pink and orange illuminate the sky — the grounds of Mt. Zion Restoration Church transform into one of the largest hubs of resources for low-income and unhoused people in Gaston County.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025
Mars will be fully illuminated by the sun, providing the best viewing conditions from Earth.
—Carlie Procell, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
The full moon in Cancer on the 13th, however, will bring the focus back to your eighth house of intimate affairs, illuminating the emotional foundation of your one-on-one connections.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Now, in a small hospital where soft sobs echoed off the sterile linoleum floors, Aaron Easton, the boy Sara married who grew up to be Marysville’s police chief, explained what happened: Sara had shot herself in the head.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacramento Bee,
26 Jan. 2025
-
But money alone doesn’t explain the absence of conscience.—
Todd L. Pittinsky,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
More than 30 years after illustrating Norton Juster's cult kids' book, Feiffer returned to the genre as an author, with books like 1993's The Man in the Ceiling (eventually adapted into a musical with Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller) and his 2010 re-teaming with Juster, The Odious Ogre.—
Etelka Lehoczky,
NPR,
21 Jan. 2025
-
This example illustrates how AI can enhance productivity while allowing humans to focus on tasks that require creativity and expertise.—
Dr. Aviva Legatt,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Her works, such as Judith Slaying Holofernes, challenge traditional gender roles and highlight her mastery of light and composition. 14.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Cambridge’s absence also highlighted the Buckeyes’ lack of depth.—
Sabreena Merchant,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Eaddy says the focus of the festival is to entertain, educate and inspire Black story tellers who have a desire to create stories of the struggles and the joys of the Black community.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Employers should educate their teams about the capabilities and limitations of AI systems, emphasizing the importance of maintaining human oversight in decision-making.—
Alonzo Martinez,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
All types of lanterns are lighted throughout the streets, and poems and riddles are often written for entertainment.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA TODAY,
27 Jan. 2025
-
The climate crisis is pouring gasoline on these blazes, but the Mafia may be lighting the spark, according to new research.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Zelenskyy did not clarify whether humanitarian aid had been paused.—
SAMYA KULLAB,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Jan. 2025
-
Justice Gorsuch, concurring with the decision to grant the stay, proposed that the Supreme Court should clarify whether district courts have the authority to issue universal injunctive relief.—
Matthew F. Erskine,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
For years, the company had emphasized to-go orders from its mobile app and even remodeled cafes to remove seating.—
Bloomberg,
The Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Polk emphasized that federal law guarantees every child's right to a public education, regardless of their immigration status.—
Michael D. Carroll,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to illuminate
Thesaurus Entries Near illuminate
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share