enlighten

/ɪnˈlaɪtən/

verb 2

Collocations

ADJ.

able, all, new

VERB + ENLIGHTEN

care, destined, display, don't, hope, tried

ENLIGHTEN + NOUN

horizons, nature, oneself, others, themselves, tom, world

PREP.

about

ADV.

maybe, perhaps

Definitions

verb

To supply with light.

The sun enlightens the Earth.

To make something clear to (someone); to give knowledge or understanding to.

She tried to enlighten them about the rules of the program, but they remained belligerently and self-righteously ignorant.

Care to enlighten me, if you think I'm so benighted?

Thesaurus

Synonyms

verb — make free from confusion or ambiguity

clear
crystallize
crystallise
crystalize
crystalise

verb — give spiritual insight to

irradiate

verb — make understand

edify

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

The sun enlightens the Earth.

Wiktionary

She tried to enlighten them about the rules of the program, but they remained belligerently and self-righteously ignorant.

Wiktionary

Care to enlighten me, if you think I'm so benighted?

Wiktionary

Woe to those who presume that they are destined to ‘enlighten’ others, not themselves!

Tatoeba · #789666

Maybe you could enlighten me.

Tatoeba · #869393

Why don't you enlighten us?

Tatoeba · #2210615

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, enlighten is marked as figuratively. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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