il·lu·mi·nate
i-ˈlü-mə-ˌnāt 
illuminated; illuminating
1
a(1)
: to supply or brighten with light
candles illuminating a church
(2)
: to make luminous or shining
b
: to enlighten spiritually or intellectually
a career educator who illuminated hundreds of students
c
: to subject to radiation
d
archaic
: to set alight
2
3
: to make illustrious or resplendent
4
: to decorate (something, such as a manuscript) with gold or silver or brilliant colors or with often elaborate designs or miniature pictures
il·lu·mi·nate
i-ˈlü-mə-nət
1
archaic
: brightened with light
2
archaic
: intellectually or spiritually enlightened
il·lu·mi·nate
i-ˈlü-mə-nət
archaic
: one having or claiming unusual enlightenment
Examples of illuminate in a Sentence
Verb
the part of the moon illuminated by the sun
A university study has illuminated the problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
6 July 2026
Whatever the math, every day of 2000 was filled with events to alter and illuminate our times.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 July 2026
According to Thales, the SLL’s native 360-degree coverage allows operators to keep targets illuminated without repeatedly repositioning the helicopter, potentially reducing rescue times in complex environments.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
6 July 2026
This year's event marked the 50th anniversary of Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks, which illuminated New York City's skyline with the nation's largest Independence Day celebration.
—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
5 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
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Verb
Following his roughly 30-minute speech, a massive fireworks display — billed by the White House as the largest in the United States' history — illuminated the sky.
—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
6 July 2026
Whatever the math, every day of 2000 was filled with events to alter and illuminate our times.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 July 2026
According to Thales, the SLL’s native 360-degree coverage allows operators to keep targets illuminated without repeatedly repositioning the helicopter, potentially reducing rescue times in complex environments.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
6 July 2026
This year's event marked the 50th anniversary of Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks, which illuminated New York City's skyline with the nation's largest Independence Day celebration.
—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
5 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illuminate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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