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 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
The non-narrative videos, which may well come to be regarded as the Sistine Chapel of video art, projected onto epic screens above the orchestra and singers, serve not to illumine Wagner’s drama but his intent.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2022
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
The non-narrative videos, which may well come to be regarded as the Sistine Chapel of video art, projected onto epic screens above the orchestra and singers, serve not to illumine Wagner’s drama but his intent.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumine
Verb
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This was really illuminating in terms of geopolitical outcomes and the impact on business across borders.—
John Werner,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
-
This philosophy illuminates why Vaz’s long-term goals are focused on professional success and meaningful community impact.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA TODAY,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
This measures how much schools actually spend on educating each student.—
Emma Whitford,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Raised in privilege in nearby Towson and educated at the Gilman School, as well as an Ivy League university, this 26-year-old will soon go on trial, accused of shooting to death the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.—
Baltimore Sun Editorial Board,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Make a massive ‘SOS’ or light a fire to create smoke.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside Online,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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From her childhood sewing machine and early college sketches, to up-close looks at the Malcolm X zoot suits and Turkana-tribe inspired beadwork for Black Panther, the result was a comprehensive, full-circle story.—
Essence,
Essence,
4 Mar. 2025
-
There's Potato Lab, a new Korean rom-com series, The Leopard, an adaptation of the Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa novel that inspired the classic 1963 from Luchino Visconti, Little Siberia, a Finnish disaster comedy, and Nadaaniyan, a quirky Indian romance.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Casa Loewe’s golden facade brightens the Jing’an Kerry Center commercial district.—
WWD,
WWD,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Use a cotton swab to work the treatment into seams and to brighten up vents, crevices and other irregular surfaces. Passport: Explore the finest destinations and experiences around the world in the Forbes Passport newsletter.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illumine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumine. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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