enlighten
verb
en·light·en
in-ˈlī-tᵊn 
en-
enlightened; enlightening
in-ˈlīt-niŋ
-ˈlī-tᵊn-iŋ,
en-
1
a
: to furnish knowledge to : instruct
enlightened us about the problem
b
: to give spiritual insight to
2
archaic
: illuminate
Examples of enlighten in a Sentence
I don't understand what's going on; can someone please enlighten me?
the lecturer at the planetarium enlightened us about the latest astronomical discoveries
Recent Examples on the Web
Who would have thought that Saxon Ratliff would have been more enlightened than most by his stay at The White Lotus Thailand?
—
Katie Campione, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025
This view is supported by enlightening analysis from economist Jessica Riedl.
—Hersh Shefrin, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Such delicate subject matter must also enlighten, entertain, and feel satisfying.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
Except, unlike the expansion that tech gave to the enlightened before, the institutions of today, such as media, science, and education, are being slowly destroyed by technology.
—Kara Swisher, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enlighten
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Katie Campione, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025
This view is supported by enlightening analysis from economist Jessica Riedl.
—Hersh Shefrin, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Such delicate subject matter must also enlighten, entertain, and feel satisfying.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
Except, unlike the expansion that tech gave to the enlightened before, the institutions of today, such as media, science, and education, are being slowly destroyed by technology.
—Kara Swisher, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enlighten
Cite this Entry
“Enlighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlighten. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
enlighten
verb
en·light·en
in-ˈlīt-ᵊn
enlightened; enlightening
-ˈlīt-niŋ
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to give knowledge or understanding to : instruct
enlightened us about the problem
enlightenment
noun
-ᵊn-mənt
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