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.

Alexander said: "It was the single most enlightening conversation I've had in the last month on trade so I see why you hold him in such high regard."

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

But the Glass year is already officially underway with two curiously enlightening projects this month.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

With six politicians vying for your attention, these debates can be noisy and argumentative, but they can also be enlightening and influential.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Rovere, on the other hand, found the book to be “barren of ideas and imagination,” and “scarcely more interesting or enlightening than the day-by-day newspaper accounts.”

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

“Once, briefly. It wasn't exactly an enlightening conversation. Mind telling me more?”

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

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