Standard Lemma guide

illumine

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)).