illustrate

verb

ˈi-lə-ˌstrāt How to pronounce illustrate (audio)
Definition of illustratenext
1
as in to demonstrate
to show or make clear by using examples she illustrated her point with a story about her experiences as a field anthropologist

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to illuminate
to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration lavishly illustrated the monograph on Caravaggio with color plates

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to explain
to make plain or understandable the recent devastating fire illustrates the need for improved safety codes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of illustrate More recently, Schumer announced that she was set to release her first children’s book — A Joke of Her Own, illustrated by Beth Mills — which is inspired by her own childhood and teaches kids about hard work and embracing comedy. — Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 Marc Ellinger, a prominent Missouri GOP attorney, and John Gore, a former Department of Justice official, intervened in the case on behalf of three Republican organizations, illustrating the national implications of Missouri’s map. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 The exhibit, which professes to illustrate storytelling through art in its earliest manifestations, is a jarring introduction to a museum that houses 1,300 original works. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 The disaster illustrates the growing peril of living in mountain regions like the Himalayas as the planet continues to warm due to climate pollution from human activities. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for illustrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrate
  1. demonstrate
  2. illuminate
  3. explain
  4. clarify
Verb
  • Series 4000 clears endurance tests The Series 4000 earned certification after completing two 720-hour durability tests, demonstrating its ability to operate through extended autonomous missions.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Organizations can identify employees whose demonstrated capabilities already align closely with the requirements of the new role, estimate the training needed to close remaining gaps and accelerate development plans with far greater confidence.
    — Raghu Krishnaiah, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of demonstrate
Verb
  • Each morning at the crack of dawn, in one of the great Instagram moments of our time, 165 enormous balloons begin to swell in Cappadocia's half-light, their burners briefly illuminating the valley floor.
    — Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • At night, few lights are turned on inside these beautiful slabs; of the twelve units in each building, only one or two are illuminated, meaning that most people with residences there live elsewhere in the city.
    — Jonathan Flint, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of illuminate
Verb
  • One of the questions, directed to David Hunt, director of finance for Entergy Arkansas, asks him to explain the reasoning for the classification of the payments.
    — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Bernadette explains the racial nuances the Guardians might not know as newcomers to Earth, echoing the landmark 1971 Green Lantern/Green Arrow comic series, which attempts to bring the space cops down to Earth by exposing them to racial strife.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • In a statement, an Axel Springer spokesperson clarified that The Circuit was technically incorporated in the US, with staff located around the world.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Pabst also originally posted that a truck was stolen, though company officials later clarified no vehicle went missing.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of clarify

Browse Nearby Words

illusory
illustrate
illustrated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Illustrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrate. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All