illuminating

[ih-loo-muh-ney-ting]

See more synonyms for illuminating on Thesaurus.com

adjective

giving or casting light.
informative; enlightening.

Origin of illuminating

First recorded in 1555–65; illuminate + -ing²

Related formsnon·il·lu·mi·nat·ing, adjectivenon·il·lu·mi·nat·ing·ly, adverbun·il·lu·mi·nat·ing, adjective

illuminate

[verb ih-loo-muh-neyt; adjective, noun ih-loo-muh-nit, -neyt]

verb (used with object), il·lu·mi·nat·ed, il·lu·mi·nat·ing.

to supply or brighten with light; light up.
to make lucid or clear; throw light on (a subject).
to decorate with lights, as in celebration.
to enlighten, as with knowledge.
to make resplendent or illustrious: A smile illuminated her face.
to decorate (a manuscript, book, etc.) with colors and gold or silver, as was often done in the Middle Ages.

verb (used without object), il·lu·mi·nat·ed, il·lu·mi·nat·ing.

to display lights, as in celebration.
to become illuminated.

adjective

Archaic. illuminated.
Obsolete. enlightened.

noun

Archaic. a person who is or affects to be specially enlightened.

Origin of illuminate

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin illūminātus (past participle of illūmināre to light up, brighten). See illumine, -ate¹

Related formsil·lu·mi·nat·ing·ly, adverbpre·il·lu·mi·nate, verb (used with object)re·il·lu·mi·nate, verb, re·il·lu·mi·nat·ed, re·il·lu·mi·nat·ing.sem·i-il·lu·mi·nat·ed, adjectiveun·il·lu·mi·nat·ed, adjective

Synonyms for illuminate

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2. clarify, explain, elucidate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for illuminating

enlightening, illuminated, incandescent, luminescent, fluorescent

Examples from the Web for illuminating

Contemporary Examples of illuminating

The deep truths resonated within my heart and soul, illuminating questions I had pondered over the years.
When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and More
Gary Wright
September 29, 2014
The illuminating think tank was just another example of how PepsiCo continues to make sure its global reach counts.
Food for Thought
September 18, 2014
On the easel sits a depiction of sun shining through trees, illuminating the grass below.
This Is Where George W. Bush Paints
Olivia Nuzzi
July 11, 2014
To see the adaptive benefits of depression, it helps to consider certain cruel but illuminating studies.
How Depression Could Save Your Life
Nick Romeo
March 4, 2014
Reading Double Down and The Gamble side by side is both fascinating and illuminating.
The Anti-‘Game Change’: ‘The Gamble’ Shows How Obama Really Won
Stuart Stevens
November 8, 2013

Historical Examples of illuminating

Eva Allen's brother, who is an artist, is illuminating one for me.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus
Jessie Graham Flower
Mr. Chase's reply to this illuminating disclosure was that he wanted to know.
Mary-'Gusta
Joseph C. Lincoln
This pipe is to be connected to the illuminating gas supply.
The Automobile Storage Battery
O. A. Witte
If you did, you would make some profound and illuminating mistakes.
College Teaching
Paul Klapper
Of the illuminating quality there could be no doubt whatever.
Notes on My Books
Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for illuminating

illuminating

adjective

serving to inform or clarify; instructive

Derived Formsilluminatingly, adverb

illuminate

verb (ɪˈluːmɪˌneɪt)

(tr) to throw light in or into; light upto illuminate a room
(tr) to make easily understood; clarify
to adorn, decorate, or be decorated with lights
(tr) to decorate (a letter, page, etc) by the application of colours, gold, or silver
(intr) to become lighted up

adjective (ɪˈluːmɪnɪt, -ˌneɪt)

archaic made clear or bright with light; illuminated

noun (ɪˈluːmɪnɪt, -ˌneɪt)

a person who has or claims to have special enlightenment

Derived Formsilluminative, adjectiveilluminator, noun

Word Origin for illuminate

C16: from Latin illūmināre to light up, from lūmen light

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for illuminating

illuminate

c.1500, "to light up, shine on," a back-formation from illumination, or else from Latin illuminatus, past participle of illuminare (see illumination). Earlier was enlumyen (late 14c.) "decorate written material with gold, silver, bright colors," from Old French enluminer, from Late Latin inluminare; also illumine (late 14c.). Related: Illuminated; illuminating.