il·lu·mi·nate
i-ˈlü-mə-ˌnāt 
illuminated; illuminating
1
a(1)
: to supply or brighten with light
(2)
: to make luminous or shining
b
: to enlighten spiritually or intellectually
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
Synonyms
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
Annie Ernaux, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024
The first of these three is pretty well known to us: a phase in the lunar cycle in which the Earth, sun, and moon are aligned with the Earth in the middle, so the moon is fully illuminated on Earth.
—Rebecca Schneid, TIME, 18 Aug. 2024
IEEE Spectrum, 9 Feb. 2024
The other four pillars are designated illuminate, educate, engage, and energize.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 May 2023
Colin Demarest, Axios, 11 July 2024
Watch:Doordash driver's dashcam video shows meteor illuminate night sky in Florida
Artemis astronauts will need a vehicle on the moon.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for illuminate 
Verb
In another, vertical shot of the same scene, the light, more intense, illuminates the dishwasher and the countertop to the left of the sink with the fertilizer and the bleach, and projects an image of the window, long and white, onto the tiled floor.
—Annie Ernaux, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024
The first of these three is pretty well known to us: a phase in the lunar cycle in which the Earth, sun, and moon are aligned with the Earth in the middle, so the moon is fully illuminated on Earth.
—Rebecca Schneid, TIME, 18 Aug. 2024
Adjective
The pillars are illuminate, educate, engage, energize, and future.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Feb. 2024
The other four pillars are designated illuminate, educate, engage, and energize.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 May 2023
Noun
Subscribe to Axios Communicators for more stories like this
Colin Demarest
Jul 10, 2024 - World
Inside the next era of warfare: How tech is reshaping the battlefield
Conflicts abroad and defense-contract competitions at home illuminate in real time the future of America's war machine.
—Colin Demarest, Axios, 11 July 2024
Watch:Doordash driver's dashcam video shows meteor illuminate night sky in Florida
Artemis astronauts will need a vehicle on the moon.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for illuminate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'illuminate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illuminate. Accessed 8 Sep. 2024.
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