illustrate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to furnish (a book, magazine, etc.) with drawings, pictures, or other artwork intended for explanation, elucidation, or adornment.
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to make clear or intelligible, as by examples or analogies; exemplify.
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Archaic. to enlighten.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to clarify or explain by use of examples, analogy, etc
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(tr) to be an example or demonstration of
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(tr) to explain or decorate (a book, text, etc) with pictures
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(tr) an archaic word for enlighten
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 Iran war has been front of mind for investors for the past month, and concerns over artificial-intelligence disruption to software have racked the sector and infected others, illustrating the power of sentiment.
From Barron's
The new mural of Huerta "illustrates the type of person that she was," he added.
From BBC
He also asked to remain anonymous—a request that ran through several similar interviews and might illustrate a feature of California’s regulatory state.
The Census Bureau’s latest population estimates illustrate how housing supply supports—or stunts—growth.
From Barron's
The daily chart illustrates how GSK has outshined peers over the past year.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
