adjective
Uncommon
illuminating
ih-LOO-mih-nay-tihng
Illuminating (adjective) means providing light. Example: “The lamp gave off a soft, illuminating glow.”
adjective
1
Providing light.
"The lamp gave off a soft, illuminating glow."
2
Helping to explain or clarify something.
"The interview offered an illuminating look at how the decision was made."
How to use illuminating
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that makes things clearer, or literally gives off light.
Common pairings
illuminating discussion
illuminating insight
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more illuminating
- Superlative
- most illuminating
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The lamp gave off a soft, _____ glow.
Etymology
From illuminate + -ing.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for illuminating
See all rhymes for illuminating →Frequently asked questions
What does “illuminating” mean?
The word “illuminating” means providing light. In plain terms, something that makes things clearer, or literally gives off light.
How do you pronounce “illuminating”?
“Illuminating” is pronounced ih-LOO-mih-nay-tihng (/ɪˈluməneɪtɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “illuminating” in a sentence?
Here is “illuminating” used in a sentence: “The lamp gave off a soft, illuminating glow.”
What is another word for “illuminating”?
Words with a similar meaning to “illuminating” include clarifying, explanatory and revelatory.
What part of speech is “illuminating”?
“Illuminating” is an adjective.
Is “illuminating” a common word?
“Illuminating” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “illuminating” have?
“Illuminating” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: providing light.
