enlightening

[en-lahyt-n-ing]

adjective

1. 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

• enlighteningly adverb
• nonenlightening adjective
• unenlightening adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of enlightening¹

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

Example Sentences

If enlightening, it is called “having an epiphany.”

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Lily-May, 18, also from Shimna Integrated College, said while it was "enlightening" meeting other young people passionate about the climate, most of her peers are "not really engaged".

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Mr. Kurlansky has nevertheless produced an enlightening and entertaining portrait of a community that deserves to be better remembered and understood, and that embodied, within its limitations, the best kind of American idealism.

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It is militarily, politically and even intellectually enlightening, but is more deliberately about selflessness and valor, not an inappropriate offering for Veterans Day.

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It’s too early, really, to tell if its unorthodox approach to art and art history is more disruptive than enlightening.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• informative 
• instructional www.thesaurus.com
• instructive