illuminating

[ ih-loo-muh-ney-ting ]

adjective

1. giving or casting light.
2. informative; enlightening.

illuminating

/ ɪˈluːmɪˌneɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. serving to inform or clarify; instructive

Derived Forms

• ilˈlumiˌnatingly, adverb

Other Words From

• nonil·lumi·nating adjective
• nonil·lumi·nating·ly adverb
• unil·lumi·nating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of illuminating¹

First recorded in 1555–65; illuminat(e) + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Salon goes through some of "Larger Than Life: Reign of the Boybands" most illuminating moments.

From Salon

A train cruises by their window at night like a caterpillar, the yellow windows of separate lives in other buildings illuminating its way.

From Los Angeles Times

They came up to me afterward and said they laughed, they cried, and also that it was illuminating, that they learned so much.

From Los Angeles Times

While information within India remains scarce, many women say they are turning to social media and that online resources are often more illuminating than conversations with their doctors.

From BBC

With the glow of taillights illuminating my obvious answer in the negative, she insisted that we go.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• enlightening