Standard Lemma guide

illuminating

adj · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɪˈl(j)uːmɪneɪtɪŋ/
  • Canada, General-American: /ɪˈluməneɪtɪŋ/
  • Canada, General-American: /ə-/
  • Canada, General-American: /-ɾɪŋ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 L UW1 M AH0 N EY2 T IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Providing illumination or light.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Providing clarification or explanation; educational, revealing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

present participle and gerund of illuminate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective

Meaning 4

tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • an enlightening glimpse of government in action
  • an illuminating lecture

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: enlightening, informative

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From illuminate + -ing.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: lumiganta — providing illumination or light.
  • Turkish: aydınlatıcı — providing illumination or light.