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
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Recent Examples of illuminate
Decades of data illuminate the urgent need to take action to sustain our public health infrastructure related to vaccinations, health education, research and Medicaid funding to avoid unnecessary deaths, disease and expenses from influenza and other infectious diseases.
—
Abigail Silva, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Since that time, as the public and scholarly estimation of the work and its composer have has grown, countless performers have turned to them, always with the goal of further discovering and illuminating the depths therein.
—Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Pro tip: Cosmetologist Anna Peterson suggests using it to illuminate the undereye area.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2025
Understanding the competition between these two men helps illuminate Trump’s particular style of governing—one defined by patronage and dealmaking.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Abigail Silva, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Since that time, as the public and scholarly estimation of the work and its composer have has grown, countless performers have turned to them, always with the goal of further discovering and illuminating the depths therein.
—Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Pro tip: Cosmetologist Anna Peterson suggests using it to illuminate the undereye area.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2025
Understanding the competition between these two men helps illuminate Trump’s particular style of governing—one defined by patronage and dealmaking.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 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 bar was illumined by candles and an uplit line of mostly esoteric liquors along the full-length mirror against the back wall.—
Lauren Groff,
The Atlantic,
28 Sep. 2024
Verb
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Huntsville Police Sergeant Christopher Jackson explained how the law specifically targets those who deliberately modify their vehicles to be louder.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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Jones explained how an unfair deal between the platform’s co-founders Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, and Cam, led to the iconic New York City battle between The Lox and Dipset.—
Marc Griffin,
VIBE.com,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Such collections illustrate the unique and tough-to-replicate advantages of manufacturing in the City of Angels.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Mar. 2025
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Overall Vital Considerations Of course, the example shown is a relatively simple one and was merely undertaken to quickly illustrate how this works.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The artisan-style packaging for each of the four sizes of tortillas, from street taco size to 12 inch, are made of cassava too, highlighting the sustainability of the plant, which doesn’t require any water to grow after its initial watering.—
Andrew Watman,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
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With over 6,000 wineries in 65 appellations, Bordeaux can be a confusing category for wine drinkers, especially when faced with dozens of lookalike bottles on a store shelf, so the 2025 Cru Bourgeois du Médoc helps cut through the fog and highlights the best of the best.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This measures how much schools actually spend on educating each student.—
Emma Whitford,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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Read More: What Trump's New AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks Means For the Tech Industry Efforts to promote humanitarianism on and off the screen elevated Warner’s personal belief about using movies to entertain and educate.—
Chris Yogerst / Made by History,
TIME,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The way the room is lit, the pacing of the evening, the way a dish is introduced, the way our team gets to know our guests - these small things create the overall experience.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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Make a massive ‘SOS’ or light a fire to create smoke.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside Online,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Markets hit a low last Thursday after Trump clarified that sweeping tariffs—25% on Mexico and Canada, and another 10% on China—will go into effect this Tuesday.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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Just to clarify, a 60-watt incandescent bulb is a 7- to 9-watt LED bulb and is 730-800 lumens.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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While emphasizing boosting domestic consumption as a top priority, Beijing vowed to expand the consumer goods trade-in program with an additional 300 billion yuan in ultra long special treasury bonds.—
Evelyn Cheng,Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2025
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Minutes before the hearing began, Adams emphasized the importance of immigrants in New York City’s history and a need to balance that with a need to for the federal government to manage the border.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to illuminate
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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