illuminating

[ ih-loo-muh-ney-ting ]

/ ɪˈlu məˌneɪ tɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR illuminating ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

giving or casting light.

informative; enlightening.

Nearby words

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

Definition for illuminating (2 of 2)

illuminate

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

/ verb ɪˈlu məˌneɪt; adjective, noun ɪˈlu mə nɪt, -ˌneɪt /

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

SYNONYMS FOR illuminate

2 clarify, explain, elucidate.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR illuminate ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

il·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, adjective

un·il·lu·mi·nat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
There are two distinct states of carbonization in illuminating gas.
Great Facts|Frederick C. Bakewell
These were most affectionate and also illuminating on national matters.
Priestley in America|Edgar F. Smith
They are facts so illuminating that presently, in our discussion of sin, they will be referred to again.
God The Invisible King|Herbert George Wells
It does not seem likely that luminous bacteria will ever come into vogue for illuminating purposes.
The Nature of Animal Light|E. Newton Harvey
It is not easy for generous and sustained reflection to become a guiding and illuminating method in action.
Creative Intelligence|John Dewey, Addison W. Moore, Harold Chapman Brown, George H. Mead, Boyd H. Bode, Henry Waldgrave, Stuart James, Hayden Tufts, Horace M. Kallen

British Dictionary definitions for illuminating (1 of 2)

illuminating

/ (ɪˈluːmɪˌneɪtɪŋ) /

adjective

serving to inform or clarify; instructive

Derived Formsilluminatingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for illuminating (2 of 2)

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.

illuminating

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of illuminating

Definition for illuminating (2 of 2)

illuminate

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

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

adjective

noun

Origin of illuminate

Examples from the Web for illuminating

British Dictionary definitions for illuminating (1 of 2)

illuminating

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for illuminating (2 of 2)

illuminate

verb (ɪˈluːmɪˌneɪt)

adjective (ɪˈluːmɪnɪt, -ˌneɪt)

noun (ɪˈluːmɪnɪt, -ˌneɪt)

Word Origin for illuminate

Word Origin and History for illuminating

illuminate