1
as in to illumine
to supply with light
a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illuminate
Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
—
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
Pulsating waves illuminated the sky; columns of light appeared and disappeared like music notes from a composer pounding the keys of a piano.
—Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 7 Jan. 2026
The brilliantly blue bolt can be seen illuminating the inside of a storm cloud above the historic city, but glimpses like these can go far beyond simply illustrating lightning’s grandeur.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
The headlights of the long-haul trucks illuminated Joshua trees and darting bats.
—Hazlitt, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
Verb
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These fruits are tiny stars, planets in arm’s reach, little moons reddened by desire and cunning, the sun, at each step, illumines the petals of the dogwood flowers, their bright yellow is dimmed by no leaf, on their still-bare branches the first fissure in winter opens up by magic.—
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Rev 21:10), an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world.—
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Mel explained that Chris was impressed by the move, and the two went for a run and had dinner together the next day.—
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In an interview with Entertainment Weekly's sister publication, PEOPLE, makeup artist Nick Barose explained his inspiration for creating Madigan's glam for the evening.—
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Recent reassessments in parts of West Garfield Park, North Lawndale and Englewood illustrate a broader problem, with increases that go far beyond routine market movement.—
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Advertisement No country illustrates the region’s dilemma better than Brazil, Latin America’s largest democracy.—
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Professor Alan Woodward, a security expert at the University of Surrey, highlighted the technical feasibility of espionage given the physical layout, The Telegraph reported.—
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Several top destinations in the Philippines are highlighted in the clip, including Bohol, Boracay, Malcapuya Island in Palawan, Pangasinan and Albay.—
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Last session, lawmakers nearly passed a $3 million bill to help school districts educate students who need additional services, like a full-time nurse or an ASL interpreter, that can cost more than $50,000.—
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
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Other recreational opportunities include, but are not limited to, swimming in one of four separate pool areas, skating on an outdoor rink that is covered, lighted, and available for 20 weeks of the year, tennis, and there are hiking trails.—
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Attendees heard remarks from city leaders and lit candles in honor of Good.—
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While the companies have not clarified where locations will be closing, financial constraints have pushed them to reduce their national footprint.—
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After the Variety story was published, Grande clarified her comments regarding new music in a comment on a fan account's Instagram post about the interview.—
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Anne Arundel County police said their investigation into the incident is ongoing and emphasized that its officers do not enforce immigration law or conduct ICE operations.—
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Researchers emphasize that the full scope of the outbreak among elephant seals may be far greater than current numbers suggest.—
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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