Meaning & use
illuminated naturally
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Receiving light from the sun or sky rather than from lamps or other artificial sources.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb or before a noun: the room is illuminated naturally; a naturally illuminated room.
Patterns
- be illuminated naturally
- a naturally illuminated space
- illuminated naturally by sunlight
The whole gallery is illuminated naturally through a long glass roof.
They designed the house so that the kitchen is illuminated naturally for most of the day.
Photographers love this street because it is illuminated naturally in the late afternoon.
phrasefixed phrasefigurativeformal
Shown or made clear by natural processes rather than by human explanation or design.
Grammar: A figurative use, mostly in formal writing about science or ideas: a point illuminated naturally by the evidence.
Patterns
- be illuminated naturally by something
- illuminated naturally in the data
The link between the two species was illuminated naturally by the fossil record.
Her argument is illuminated naturally by the examples she draws from fieldwork.
Common combinations
- naturally illuminated room
- The naturally illuminated room needed no ceiling lights until dusk.
- illuminated naturally by the sun
- The courtyard is illuminated naturally by the sun for about six hours a day.
- well illuminated naturally
- The upper floor is well illuminated naturally thanks to two large windows.
- designed to be illuminated naturally
- The library was designed to be illuminated naturally, which saves a lot of electricity.
- illuminated naturally through a window
- The stairwell is illuminated naturally through a narrow window on each landing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- daylit
- More technical and usually describes a building or space that receives daylight; 'illuminated naturally' is a longer, more descriptive way of saying the same thing.
- sunlit
- Focuses on direct sunshine and sounds warmer and more poetic; 'illuminated naturally' also covers soft light from a cloudy sky.
- lit by natural light
- The everyday spoken equivalent; use it in conversation, and keep 'illuminated naturally' for written descriptions.
Opposites
Word family
- illuminate verb
- To light something up or make it clearer.
- illumination noun
- Light, or the act of lighting something.
- natural adjective
- Existing in nature, not made by people.
- naturally adverb
- In a natural way, or of course.
Commonly confused: illuminated naturally or lit naturally? illuminated naturally or naturally illuminated?
illuminated naturally vs lit naturally
Very close in meaning, but 'lit' is the short everyday form and 'illuminated' sounds more formal and often suggests a pleasant or impressive effect.
illuminated naturally vs naturally illuminated
The same words in the other order; this order is more common before a noun ('a naturally illuminated hall'), while 'illuminated naturally' usually follows the verb.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Illuminated naturally' means lit by sunlight or sky light, so tall windows fit. Option 0 is wrong because ceiling lamps are artificial light. Option 2 puts the phrase in the wrong position and makes 'illuminated' take the windows as an object. Option 3 puts an adjective where an adverb is needed.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “illuminated naturally”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.