verb (used with object),il·lu·mi·nat·ed,il·lu·mi·nat·ing.
to supply or brighten with light; light up.
to make lucid or clear; throw light on (a subject).
to decorate with lights, as in celebration.
to enlighten, as with knowledge.
to make resplendent or illustrious: A smile illuminated her face.
to decorate (a manuscript, book, etc.) with colors and gold or silver, as was often done in the Middle Ages.
verb (used without object),il·lu·mi·nat·ed,il·lu·mi·nat·ing.
to display lights, as in celebration.
to become illuminated.
adjective
Archaic. illuminated.
Obsolete. enlightened.
noun
Archaic. a person who is or affects to be specially enlightened.
Origin of illuminate
1400–50; late Middle English <Latin illūminātus (past participle of illūmināre to light up, brighten). See illumine, -ate1
SYNONYMS FOR illuminate
2 clarify, explain, elucidate.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR illuminate ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM illuminate
il·lu·mi·nat·ing·ly,adverbpre·il·lu·mi·nate,verb (used with object)re·il·lu·mi·nate,verb,re·il·lu·mi·nat·ed,re·il·lu·mi·nat·ing.sem·i-il·lu·mi·nat·ed,adjective
The beast stood immobile, glaring at us with yellow eyes in the winter dark and illuminated unevenly by Sergey’s light as our pace quickened.
The quest to snare—and save—the world’s largest owl|Jonathan Slaght|August 28, 2020|Popular Science
What’s really interesting, though, are the fuzzy jets and streamers surrounding the comet, which are especially prominent when illuminated like this from behind.
These Images Expose the Dark Side of the Solar System - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Corey S. Powell|August 26, 2020|Nautilus
Even if nothing is actually decided at the conventions, they still shine a spotlight on the parties, illuminating emerging factions and up-and-coming politicians, setting the stage for — and creating — the future of each party.
Why Conventions Still Matter|Julia Azari|August 17, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Visitors will enter through an illuminated maze, then be invited to contribute words from kiosks, after which an AI-powered algorithm will collect and parse them into poetry, and perhaps shoot them into outer space.
The Story Behind the Eiffel Tower’s Forgotten Competitors|Fiona Zublin|August 10, 2020|Ozy
In the ocean’s depths, it might take more than a little light to illuminate some of the planet’s darkest fish.
Superblack fish can disappear in the deep sea’s darkness|Erin Garcia de Jesus|August 10, 2020|Science News For Students
These numbers portend to illuminate society-threatening failures within the current immigration enforcement system.
Inside The Center For Immigration Studies, The Immigration False-Fact Think Tank|Caitlin Dickson|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Reading them will illuminate your own life and make it better.
What Sebastian Junger, Susan Orlean, and Others Are Reading This Fall|Byliner|November 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Dispensing with some of the objections helps to illuminate this case.
The Case For Cutting Off Aid to Egypt|Ali Gharib|July 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
She has chosen to share her story in order to illuminate the endemic problem of sexual violence in India.
See Who’s Coming to Women in the World 2013: Speakers & Participants||March 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Activists with flashlights should illuminate “vampires—foreign agents.”
Russia Uses ‘Foreign Agent’ Ruse to Crack Down on Memorial & Other NGOs|Anna Nemtsova|November 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Place the lamp, which should give a clear, brilliant light, so as to illuminate the wood-work without giving strong shadows.
Harper's Round Table, May 21, 1895|Various
Next they illuminate as splendidly as they can, and pray for felicity towards some domestic idol.
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 12, Issue 326, August 9, 1828|Various
All souls first illuminate the sky, and radiate from it their first and purest rays; the remainder is lit up by inferior powers.
Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 2|Plotinos (Plotinus)
Such are some of the thoughts which gleam out the present Book and illuminate the whole Odyssey.
Homer's Odyssey|Denton J. Snider
It was now quite dark, and the boys brought in the two oil lamps from the auto, as well as a lantern, to illuminate the place.
The Motor Boys Across the Plains|Clarence Young
British Dictionary definitions for illuminate
illuminate
verb (ɪˈluːmɪˌneɪt)
(tr)to throw light in or into; light upto illuminate a room
(tr)to make easily understood; clarify
to adorn, decorate, or be decorated with lights
(tr)to decorate (a letter, page, etc) by the application of colours, gold, or silver
(intr)to become lighted up
adjective (ɪˈluːmɪnɪt, -ˌneɪt)
archaicmade clear or bright with light; illuminated
noun (ɪˈluːmɪnɪt, -ˌneɪt)
a person who has or claims to have special enlightenment
Derived forms of illuminate
illuminative, adjectiveilluminator, noun
Word Origin for illuminate
C16: from Latin illūmināre to light up, from lūmen light