Meaning & use
illustrate
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To make a point clearer by giving an example, a comparison, or a picture.
Grammar: Takes an object: illustrate a point.
Patterns
- illustrate something with something
- illustrate how something works
The teacher used a simple experiment to illustrate how magnets work.
These figures illustrate the problem clearly.
Let me illustrate my point with a story.
verbtransitive
To add drawings, photographs, or diagrams to a book or article.
Grammar: Takes an object: illustrate a book. Often passive: the book is illustrated.
Patterns
- illustrate a book
- illustrated by someone
She illustrates children's books for a living.
The guide is richly illustrated with maps.
He illustrated the article with his own photographs.
Word forms
| third person singular | illustrates |
|---|---|
| past tense | illustrated |
| past participle | illustrated |
| -ing form | illustrating |
Common combinations
- illustrate a point
- A short story can illustrate a point well.
- clearly illustrate
- The graph clearly illustrates the trend.
- illustrate the need for
- The accident illustrates the need for safer roads.
- beautifully illustrated
- The cookbook is beautifully illustrated.
Synonyms and how they differ
- demonstrate
- Demonstrate means to show something is true or how it works, often by doing it, while illustrate makes a point clearer with an example.
- exemplify
- Exemplify is more formal and means to be a typical example.
- depict
- Depict means to show in a picture or words, but not necessarily to explain a point.
Opposites
Word family
- illustration noun
- a picture or an example that explains
- illustrator noun
- a person who draws pictures for books
- illustrative adjective
- serving as an example
- illustrated adjective
- containing pictures
Commonly confused: illustrate or illuminate?
illustrate vs illuminate
Illuminate means to light something up or to clarify; illustrate means to explain through examples or pictures.
Practice
The speaker used a funny story to ___ why preparation matters.
Choose one answer.
After 'to' the base form is needed, so 'illustrate' is right. The other options are inflected or add an unwanted word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “illustrate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.