illustrate

[ il-uh-streyt, ih-luhs-treyt ]

verb (used with object)

, il·lus·trat·ed, il·lus·trat·ing.

1. to furnish (a book, magazine, etc.) with drawings, pictures, or other artwork intended for explanation, elucidation, or adornment.
2. to make clear or intelligible, as by examples or analogies; exemplify.
3. Archaic. to enlighten.

verb (used without object)

, il·lus·trat·ed, il·lus·trat·ing.

1. to clarify one's words, writings, etc., with examples:

   To prevent misunderstandings, let me illustrate.

illustrate

/ ˈɪləˌstreɪt /

verb

1. to clarify or explain by use of examples, analogy, etc
2. tr to be an example or demonstration of
3. tr to explain or decorate (a book, text, etc) with pictures
4. tr an archaic word for enlighten

Derived Forms

• ˈillusˌtratable, adjective
• ˈillusˌtrative, adjective
• ˈillusˌtratively, adverb
• ˈillusˌtrator, noun

Other Words From

• illus·trata·ble adjective
• over·illus·trate verb (used with object) overillustrated overillustrating
• pre·illus·trate verb (used with object) preillustrated preillustrating
• re·illus·trate verb (used with object) reillustrated reillustrating
• super·illus·trate verb (used with object) superillustrated superillustrating

Word History and Origins

Origin of illustrate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin illustrātus, past participle of illustrāre “to illuminate, make clear, give glory to”; il- ¹, luster ¹, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of illustrate¹

C16: from Latin illustrāre to make light, explain, from lustrāre to purify, brighten; see lustrum

Example Sentences

Showing a humbleness which motivates others was illustrated off court when, in 2018, he led from the front to help his home island of Mallorca recover from devastating flash flooding.

From BBC

They illustrated the essence of the farmers’ argument: there is a deep-seated cultural expectation that they will pass on their farm to the next generation.

From BBC

These patterns illustrate the complex interrelationships of alcohol consumption, premature death and disease, regardless of the beverage type.

From Science Daily

“Matthew Perry’s tragic death by drowning while intoxicated illustrates that the greatest risks from ketamine are not direct effects of the drug but from using outside of medical settings or without proper monitoring.”

From Salon

He lunged in with a hook which missed by at least a foot in the fifth, illustrating just how much of a difference the age was making.

From BBC

Related Words

• clarify
• delineate
• depict
• embody
• emphasize
• epitomize
• exhibit
• explain
• expose
• highlight
• illuminate
• interpret
• lay out
• manifest
• mark
• mirror
• personify
• point up
• portray
• represent