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.

He also asked to remain anonymous—a request that ran through several similar interviews and might illustrate a feature of California’s regulatory state.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

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

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 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

Few studies illustrate that paradox more crisply than the latest State of Working India report by Azim Premji University.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Before he peels away to hobnob, he says he has a thought about another way to illustrate the way attention works, and how easily it can be fractured in the modern world.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

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