illuminating

il·lu·mi·nat·ing
I1L1L1U1M3I1N1A1T1I1N1G2
UK/ɪˈl(j)uːmɪneɪtɪŋ/Canada, US/ɪˈluməneɪtɪŋ/Canada, US/ə-/Canada, US/-ɾɪŋ/

adjective

Providing illumination or light.

Less commonScrabble 15

Meanings

adjectiveilluminating (comparative more illuminating, superlative most illuminating)

comparative more illuminating · superlative most illuminating

  1. figurativelyProviding clarification or explanation; educational, revealing.
    1 more example

    An illuminating article in a recent issue of the Eastern Region's Civil Engineering News points out that where coal is worked over a reasonably large area, it is not only the whole of the strata above the workings, but also an area beyond which is liable to subside at varying rates after the coal has been removed.

    1961 November, “Talking of Trains: The subsidence problem”, in Trains Illustrated, page 651
verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of illuminate.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivetending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Translations

Esperanto lumiganta
  • lumigantaproviding illumination or light.
Turkish aydınlatıcı
  • aydınlatıcıproviding illumination or light.
Cite this entry
APA

illuminating. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/illuminating

MLA

“illuminating.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/illuminating. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “illuminating,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/illuminating.

Source: illuminating on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.