verb · 11 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
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Received-Pronunciation:/ɪˈl(j)uːmɪn/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ɪˈlumən/
rhymes with -uːmɪn
1
verb
Meaning 1
Synonym of illuminate.
To shine light on (something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: also, figuratively, literary, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
Synonym of illuminate.
To cause (something) to glow or shine with light.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: also, figuratively, literary, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
Synonym of illuminate.
To enlighten (someone) spiritually; to induce (someone) to adopt, or believe in the truth of, a religion, religious tenet, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, literary, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
Synonym of illuminate.
To cause (the eyes) to see.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, literary, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
Synonym of illuminate.
To cause (a person or their face) to show enlightenment, happiness, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, literary, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
Synonym of illuminate.
To enlighten (someone) intellectually.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, literary, rare, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
Synonym of illuminate.
To decorate (a page of a manuscript book) with ornamental designs.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, literary, transitive
Topics: art, arts
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
Synonym of illuminate.
To become bright; to light up.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
Synonym of illuminate.
To enlighten intellectually.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
verb
Meaning 10
Synonym of illuminate.
Of a person or their face: to show enlightenment, happiness, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
verb
Meaning 11
make lighter or brighter
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
This lamp lightens the room a bit
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: light, illume, light up, illuminate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: lighten, lighten up
Narrower terms: floodlight, spotlight
History
Etymology
From Middle English illuminen (“to light, light up; to shine; (figuratively) to enlighten spiritually; to make illustrious”) [and other forms], from Old French illuminer (“to light up, illuminate; (figuratively) to enlighten”) (modern French illuminer), from Latin illūmināre, the present active infinitive of illūminō (“to light up, illuminate; to brighten; to adorn; to make conspicuous”), from il- (variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘in, within’; intensifying prefix)) + lūminō (“to illuminate; to brighten; (figuratively) to reveal”) (from lūmen (“light; light source; (poetic) brightness; daylight”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“to shine; to see; bright”)) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs)).