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
In other modes, the top is illuminated with a blue light.
—
Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Newer wineries such as Carboy, Sauvage Spectrum and The Storm Cellar have also illuminated the industry, making sparkling wines and other products aimed at winning over non-connoisseurs.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
These short stories about scientists working at the leading edge of climate microbiology reveal the vital role microbes play in our biosphere and climate system, and illuminate new possibilities for collaborating with these incredible natural chemists.
—Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Its walls were white—the color of purity—and the interior was brightly illuminated by eight hundred triangular windows of translucent white glass.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Newer wineries such as Carboy, Sauvage Spectrum and The Storm Cellar have also illuminated the industry, making sparkling wines and other products aimed at winning over non-connoisseurs.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
These short stories about scientists working at the leading edge of climate microbiology reveal the vital role microbes play in our biosphere and climate system, and illuminate new possibilities for collaborating with these incredible natural chemists.
—Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Its walls were white—the color of purity—and the interior was brightly illuminated by eight hundred triangular windows of translucent white glass.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
Verb
-
Rev 21:10), an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world.—
Daniel Burke,
NPR,
9 May 2025
-
The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Here, Renzi explains how long the doc was in the works, why family members didn’t participate, and how Marco of all people helped Sheen to get off crack.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
13 Sep. 2025
-
At a time when contentious words dominate our conversations—think insurrection and fascism and fake news and woke—the need for dictionaries to chronicle and explain language, and serve as its watchdog, has never been greater.—
Stefan Fatsis,
The Atlantic,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Texas case clearly illustrates what is at stake.—
Lila Rose,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
In areas where water availability is limited, competing demands, such as agriculture or community needs, may be constrained, illustrating how AI’s resource footprint can intersect with broader development challenges.—
Michaela Rychetska,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The win highlighted the robot’s endurance and hinted at broader applications in sports and beyond.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Recent news reports highlight several incidents where this sort of data leak has already happened.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
He was inspired to start the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness following his surgeries and the nonprofit's aim was to educate the public about organ and tissue donation.—
Stephanie Kaloi,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Instead of outsourcing all financial decisions to an advisor or ignoring them out of fear, entrepreneurs are taking small, intentional steps to educate themselves.—
Alejandra Rojas,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ben Hania lights a connective fuse between documentary and drama, using the actual recordings of the panicked girl and the emergency workers — the latter played by actors who hold the screen with pulsing immediacy.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Everyone's got something that lights them up.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At the time, palace officials clarified that no rules had been broken, noting that guests are often encouraged to lead during troop reviews.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Shane Croucher
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Because what should have been a chance to clarify his current business moves or offer some perspective on his legacy spiraled into name-calling, interruptions, and accusations.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In recent years, as American moms have been enthusiastically encouraged to breastfeed, many experts have emphasized that making sure infants are fed, period, should be parents’ highest priority.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Psychologist Marshall Rosenberg, the founder of Nonviolent Communication, emphasized that beneath most criticisms or demands lies a universal human need.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share