enlightening

American

[en-lahyt-n-ing] / ɛnˈlaɪt n ɪŋ /

adjective

informative, instructive, or eye-opening; giving intellectual or spiritual light.

You are encouraged to watch this very enlightening video to better understand what small family farms are up against.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of enlightening

First recorded in 1570–80; enlighten ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Enlightening and enraging theatergoers in the hope of changing the world is not, of course, a violation of dramatic policy.

From New York Times • Apr. 23, 2023

Enlightening the president wasn’t easy, however, and “King had to be relentless.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 6, 2018

After the July 23 bombing, Enlightening leaders said they spent $200,000 to have 40 seriously wounded demonstrators treated in India, and provided bereavement payments to the families of those killed.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 28, 2016

But oh yeah lets get prissy about having to get health insurance. jortega41 @KariByron Enlightening article, thank you for tweeting it.

From Time • Feb. 22, 2013

Enlightening, I’d say, and they used the made-up town of Niceville, Mississippi, but who knows?”

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023