shed light on

present singular third person sheds light on · participle present shedding light on · alternative shed light upon · alternative shed light

1. alsofigurativelytransitiveTo illuminate; to make clear.

   The new instruments will shed some light on the history of these rocks.

   4 more examples

   There was another noticeable circumstance that shed light on human nature and Grim's knowledge of it.

   Take it slow, take it easy on me / And shed some light, shed some light on me please

   2007, Feist, Chilly Gonzales, “My Moon My Man”, in The Reminder, performed by Feist

   Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:[…]. The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom.

   2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist, archived from the original on 03 Sep 2013

   The skeleton is an adult male who was buried with his hands bound together under his pelvis. It is suggested this unusual position means he could have been murdered or executed. […] We hope our osteologists will be able to shed more light on this potentially gruesome death.

   2020 July 29, “Neolithic skeleton among finds unearthed at HS2 site”, in Rail, page 17

   Synonyms: enlighten, illuminate, clear, clear up, elucidate, throw light on, elucidate, sort out