enlightening

adjective

en·​light·​en·​ing in-ˈlīt-niŋ How to pronounce enlightening (audio)
-ˈlī-tᵊn-iŋ
en-
Synonyms of enlighteningnext
: providing or tending to provide knowledge, understanding, or insight
a very enlightening discussion
… he takes readers on enlightening excursions through the nature of Judaism, Hegelian philosophy, wherever his curiosity heads.George Johnson
enlighteningly adverb

Examples of enlightening in a Sentence

an enlightening pamphlet about the major changes that consumers can expect from their cable and Internet service providers
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Join 350,000+ subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles. The Week Uk, TheWeek, 4 July 2026 Spontaneous travel or conversation with someone from a different background could be genuinely enlightening. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 The Joy of a Good Party, or Two A busy week of pitching, listening and enlightening came to a joyous conclusion on Thursday night with the Pride celebration party held at the Canva Creative Cabana on the beach. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 June 2026 This was very enlightening for me. Literary Hub, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for enlightening

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of enlightening was in 1574

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Cite this Entry

“Enlightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlightening. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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