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View synonyms for

illustrate

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

verb (used with object)

illustrated, illustrating.
  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)

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

    To prevent misunderstandings, let me illustrate.

illustrate

/ ˈɪəˌٰɪ /

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈܲˌٰٲ, adjective
  • ˈܲˌٰپ, adjective
  • ˈܲˌٰپly, adverb
  • ˈܲˌٰٴǰ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • lܲ·ٰa· adjective
  • v·lܲ·ٰٱ verb (used with object) overillustrated overillustrating
  • ·lܲ·ٰٱ verb (used with object) preillustrated preillustrating
  • ·lܲ·ٰٱ verb (used with object) reillustrated reillustrating
  • p·lܲ·ٰٱ verb (used with object) superillustrated superillustrating
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Word History and Origins

Origin of illustrate1

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin ٰܲٳܲ, past participle of ٰܲ “to illuminate, make clear, give glory to”; il- 1, luster 1, -ate 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of illustrate1

C16: from Latin ٰܲ to make light, explain, from ٰܲ to purify, brighten; see lustrum
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Costume designer Celeste Jennings illustrates their differences through clothing choices that reflect Sade’s more marginalized status and Mina’s more assimilated reality.

From

Instead, using his show’s headline-making legal headache as an example, Oliver illustrated why Trump’s penchant for weaponizing the legal system is dangerous to freedom of speech and expression.

From

He added that it "perfectly illustrates the fact that marine parks are an outdated industry with dropping acceptability" in society.

From

The BBC has also analysed satellite images to illustrate two of the biggest burns this year.

From

If you can take good pictures of something, you can convey a lot of these characteristics that formerly would have just been illustrated or more often described using taxonomic terminology.

From

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