1
as in to illumine
to supply with light
a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illuminate
Words came to my mind that illuminated the images, and the images trailed jangling verbs behind them.
—
Domenico Starnone, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2025
The sun's confrontation with Mars illuminates internal dynamics at play.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Defocused highlights are evenly illuminated, a characteristic that leads to softer backgrounds in general.
—PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
This phenomenon appears as glowing waves or arcs of color—typically green, though sometimes red or purple—illuminating the night sky.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Domenico Starnone, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2025
The sun's confrontation with Mars illuminates internal dynamics at play.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Defocused highlights are evenly illuminated, a characteristic that leads to softer backgrounds in general.
—PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
This phenomenon appears as glowing waves or arcs of color—typically green, though sometimes red or purple—illuminating the night sky.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
Verb
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The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2025
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The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The reason for the independence, the Brookings Institution explains, is that politicians tend to want lower interest rates because lower rates stimulate the economy.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
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If yes, please explain: Only at the misdemeanor level.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Her own work has illustrated how different brain regions activate when processing English or Chinese sentences because of their differing linguistic properties.—
Gayoung Lee,
Scientific American,
14 Apr. 2025
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As the graphic above illustrates, Galatasaray’s Napoli loanee can find space to shoot, even with limited service.—
Ali Rampling,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The White House released a fact sheet on Friday that highlighted a 2005 New York Times article lamenting the U.S. trade deficit and a 2009 statement from famed Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker blaming the Great Recession on trade imbalances.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Apr. 2025
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Öztürk, a former Fulbright scholar in a doctoral program at Tufts University, was stunned to find out in early March that she had been targeted by a pro-Israel group that highlighted an op-ed she co-wrote last year criticizing the school’s response to the war in Gaza.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This free forum will help educate the community on the probate process and available resources available to start estate planning efforts.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Apr. 2025
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Sea level rise maps generally aim to educate viewers about the real-world consequences of a warmed planet, but Linn’s use of period gas station maps also deftly points the finger of blame at oil conglomerates.—
Carlton Reid,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Bring to light what’s at conflicting purposes while the sun clashes with Mars.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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The poor performance led one Lakers legend to try and light a fire underneath his former squad.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The system includes a clarifying shampoo, keratin treatment, and nourishing hair mask, each infused with hydrolyzed keratin and antioxidant-rich açaí and cacao to restore hydration, combat oxidative stress, and unveil a noticeably smoother, more manageable texture.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
18 Apr. 2025
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While entrance fees are waived, the National Park Service has clarified that some reservation systems and amenity charges remain in effect.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Fremont’s 2024 Homelessness Response Plan emphasized prevention, housing and outreach.—
David Bonaccorsi,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
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Scrolling Instagram and TikTok was damaging enough to my self-worth prior to pregnancy, but there’s nothing quite like seeing a fitness or lifestyle influencer emphasizing the flatness of their abs mere weeks after delivery to demolish your confidence.—
Michelle Konstantinovsky,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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