illustrate

American

[il-uh-streyt, ih-luhs-treyt] / ˈɪl əˌstreɪt, ɪˈlʌs treɪt /

verb (used with object)

illustrated, illustrating

to furnish (a book, magazine, etc.) with drawings, pictures, or other artwork intended for explanation, elucidation, or adornment.
to make clear or intelligible, as by examples or analogies; exemplify.
Archaic. to enlighten.

verb (used without object)

illustrated, illustrating

to clarify one's words, writings, etc., with examples.

To prevent misunderstandings, let me illustrate.

illustrate British

/ ˈɪləˌstreɪt /

verb

to clarify or explain by use of examples, analogy, etc
(tr) to be an example or demonstration of
(tr) to explain or decorate (a book, text, etc) with pictures
(tr) an archaic word for enlighten

"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

Other Word Forms

illustratable adjective
illustrative adjective
illustratively adverb
illustrator noun
overillustrate verb (used with object)
preillustrate verb (used with object)
reillustrate verb (used with object)
superillustrate verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of illustrate

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin illustrātus, past participle of illustrāre “to illuminate, make clear, give glory to”; il- ¹, luster ¹, -ate ¹

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.

The Census Bureau’s latest population estimates illustrate how housing supply supports—or stunts—growth.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Ducournau wants to illustrate how fear itself can be a deadly contagion, a reality anyone who lived through those terrible times already knows too well.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

I have an issue that, while affecting only a small group of people, might illustrate broader concerns around required minimum distributions, rollovers and retirement planning.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

Two deals announced this week illustrate the shift.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

But even to pose that question is to illustrate the gap between ancient perspectives and our own expectations of mass literacy.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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