Illuminate Meaning in English

word

US

ˌɪˈɫumɪnɪt

ih-LOO-mih-nayt

UK

ɪlˈuːmɪnˌeɪt

ih-LOO-mih-nayt

Definition

To light something up or make it brighter. It can also mean to explain something clearly or make an idea easier to understand.

Usage & Nuances

Usually formal or literary. Common with literal meaning ('illuminate the room') and figurative ('illuminate a subject'). Not used in casual speech for 'light up'—use 'light' or 'brighten' instead. Often used in academic or descriptive writing.

• Spanish: iluminar - aclarar (explicar)
• Portuguese (BR): iluminar - elucidar (explicar)
• Portuguese (PT): iluminar - elucidar (explicar)
• Chinese (Simplified): 照亮 - 启发（解释）
• Chinese (Traditional): 照亮 - 啟發（解釋）
• Hindi: प्रकाश डालना - स्पष्ट करना (व्याख्या)
• Arabic: يضيء - يوضح (يشرح)
• Bengali: আলোকিত করা - স্পষ্ট করা
• Russian: освещать - прояснять
• Japanese: 照らす - 明らかにする
• Vietnamese: chiếu sáng - làm sáng tỏ
• Korean: 비추다 - 밝히다
• Turkish: aydınlatmak - açıklamak
• Urdu: روشن کرنا - واضح کرنا
• Indonesian: menerangi - menjelaskan

Example Sentences

The teacher illuminated the topic with clear examples.

basic

Candles illuminate the room during a power cut.

basic

Streetlights illuminate the road at night.

basic

Her explanation really illuminated things for me.

natural

Let's use a flashlight to illuminate our way.

natural

The report helped illuminate the causes of the problem.

natural