1
as in to illuminate
to supply with light
small table lamps illumine the inn's dining room in a most romantic way
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
readers of great literature are both entertained and illumined
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of illumine
The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.
—
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
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
In a room illumined by the light of a few candles, a group of women with veils over their faces conducts a séance.
—Rhoda Feng, ARTnews.com, 9 Aug. 2024
First a dazzling light show that illumined the arena in a constellation of purple.
—NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024
Hung’s defense of artistic passion starts with the human touch, then illumines our basic needs and spiritual appetite.
—Armond White, National Review, 9 Feb. 2024
The papaya-pulp glow of sodium lights on a remote station’s platform revealed the denizens of the wayside: disused open-top hoppers, empty coil cars, corroded gondolas, a modest village in the distance illumined by weak-yellow streetlamps.
—Mark Orwoll, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2023
There was in the Registry, besides, her portrait, painted by an artist of the time in the conventional style of the time: haloed, illumined, awestruck eyes fixed upward to the heavens.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
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
In a room illumined by the light of a few candles, a group of women with veils over their faces conducts a séance.
—Rhoda Feng, ARTnews.com, 9 Aug. 2024
First a dazzling light show that illumined the arena in a constellation of purple.
—NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024
Hung’s defense of artistic passion starts with the human touch, then illumines our basic needs and spiritual appetite.
—Armond White, National Review, 9 Feb. 2024
The papaya-pulp glow of sodium lights on a remote station’s platform revealed the denizens of the wayside: disused open-top hoppers, empty coil cars, corroded gondolas, a modest village in the distance illumined by weak-yellow streetlamps.
—Mark Orwoll, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2023
There was in the Registry, besides, her portrait, painted by an artist of the time in the conventional style of the time: haloed, illumined, awestruck eyes fixed upward to the heavens.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumine
Verb
-
More than 1,000 twinkling candles will illuminate the stage.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2025
-
For example, the Kross Studio's Bat-Signal lamp illuminates, further immersing the collector into the universe of Gotham City and also conceals a dedicated space on his backside to safely store The Batman tourbillon or any other watch.—
Stéphane JG Girod,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Don't show up and ask someone there to educate you.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The Charlotte Observer spoke to Chris Hayes, an extension associate of structural pest management at NC State University who specializes educating the pest management industry on critter habits, to find out.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Bring to light what’s at conflicting purposes while the sun clashes with Mars.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
-
The poor performance led one Lakers legend to try and light a fire underneath his former squad.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
May the light of Easter inspire efforts to promote harmony in the western Balkans and sustain political leaders in their efforts to allay tensions and crises, and, together with their partner countries in the region, to reject dangerous and destabilizing actions.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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After earning herself an Academy Award with her Sense and Sensibility script, Thompson leant her pen to another Jane Austen adaptation — and helped nail down a speech that would inspire two decades worth of memes and angsty birthday cakes.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Hudson's, and potentially Belichick's presence at the competition will only brighten the national spotlight on it.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight outdoor security camera brightens your driveway with a 50% discount while capturing clear footage day or night.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illumine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumine. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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