Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

illuminate

/ɪˈl(j)umɪneɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.30 in modern English

Syllables: il-lu-mi-nate
IPA: /ɪˈl(j)umɪneɪt/

12

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To shine light on something.

Transitive verb

verb

To decorate something with lights.

Transitive verb

verb

To clarify or make something understandable.

Transitive verb

verb

To decorate the page of a manuscript book with ornamental designs.

Transitive verb

verb

To make spectacular.

Transitive verb

verb

To glow; to light up.

Intransitive verb

verb

To be exposed to light.

Intransitive verb

verb

To direct a radar beam toward.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"Nero illuminated his gardens with live Christians soaked in tar, and we were now treated to a similar spectacle, probably for the first time since his day, only happily our lamps were not living ones."
"A light that is one foot away from the subject's face will completely illuminate the face, but leave the rest of the body softer and darker."
"Riding along the busy, narrow roads of Bali on her scooter with the sun illuminating her face, Victoria Kjos has a clear destination in sight — the beach."
"The situation, as it was, made it more difficult for him to leave. Yet it illuminated the very reasons why he had to go."
"Hodgson's approach may not illuminate proceedings in Poland and Ukraine but early evidence suggests they will be tough to break down."
"Red diode in button illuminates when camera runs at speed set in five-digit speed selector."

Etymology

From Middle English illuminaten, borrowed from Latin illūminātus, perfect passive participle of illūminō (“lighten, light up, show off”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more), from in + lūminō (“light up”), from lūmen (“light”). Cognate with Old English lȳman (“to glow, shine”). More at leam.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: illuminaten, illūminātus

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪˈl(j)umɪneɪt/
British English: /ɪˈl(j)umɪneɪt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

illuminates (present, singular) illuminating (participle, present) illuminated (participle, past) illuminated (past) more illuminate (comparative) most illuminate (superlative) illuminates (plural)

Derived Forms

counterilluminate disilluminate illuminative illuminator interilluminate preilluminate reilluminate retroilluminate transilluminate

Frequently Paired Words

luminous lumens

Synonyms

belight enlighten illumine bring home clarify elucidate explicitize sort out straighten out illustrate quill gleam

Antonyms

endarken

Questions

How do you pronounce illuminate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪˈl(j)umɪneɪt/.
What does illuminate mean?: To shine light on something.
Where does illuminate come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce illuminate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “illuminate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪˈl(j)umɪneɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “illuminate”.
Repeat and practice — Say “illuminate” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.