What does illuminate mean?
Word: Illuminate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Illuminate means to light something up, or to make something easier to understand.
Synonyms: light up, brighten, explain
Antonyms: dim
How do you spell illuminate?
Syllables: il - lu - mi - nate
Tricky part: It begins with a double l. Iluminate, with one l, is easy to write by mistake.
Watch out for: iluminate, iluminnate
Memory tip: Two lamps stand at the start of the word, one for each l, ready to light it up.
Illuminate in a sentence
Example 1: Hundreds of diyas illuminate our street on Diwali night.
Example 2: A single torch was enough to illuminate the whole tent.
Example 3: The teacher used a globe and a lamp to illuminate how day and night happen.
Fun Fact
Fireflies illuminate their bodies with a chemical reaction that gives off almost no heat, which is why their glow is called cold light.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
illum_n_te
a) i, e
b) i, a
c) a, a
d) e, a
Show answer
b) i, a. Say il-lu-mi-nate: mi has an i, and the word closes with ate.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
tenulimail
a) laminate
b) illustrate
c) illuminate
d) eliminate
Show answer
c) illuminate. Illustrate needs an s and an r, eliminate an e at the start, and laminate is too short.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
illuminate
a) darken
b) glitter
c) decorate
d) polish
Show answer
a) darken. To darken is to take light away, while to illuminate is to bring it.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) celebrate
b) illumminate
c) festival
d) decorate
Show answer
b) illumminate. This word has only one m.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What can illuminate a dark room?
a) a blanket
b) a lamp
c) a curtain
d) a pillow
Show answer
b) a lamp
2. Which sentence uses illuminate to mean explain, not light up?
a) Stars illuminate the night sky.
b) The story illuminated how hard life was for farmers.
c) The lamp illuminated the porch.
d) Fairy lights illuminated the tree.
Show answer
b) The story illuminated how hard life was for farmers.
