Meaning & use
illustrating
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“illustrating” is a form of “illustrate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Making an explanation clearer by giving examples, evidence, comparisons, or pictures.
Grammar: Takes an object; often followed by how, that, or with: illustrating how costs rose.
Patterns
- illustrate something with something
- illustrate how something happens
- be illustrating a point
She is illustrating her argument with three short case studies.
The chart is illustrating how prices rose after the storm.
Thank you for illustrating the difference so clearly.
verbtransitive
Drawing or providing pictures for a book, article, or other publication.
Grammar: Takes the publication or pages as object: illustrating a children's book.
Patterns
- illustrate a book
- illustrate for a magazine
- be illustrating a scene
He is illustrating a guide to city birds.
She spent the winter illustrating recipes for a small magazine.
The artist is illustrating the same scene from three viewpoints.
Word forms
| third person singular | illustrates |
|---|---|
| past tense | illustrated |
| past participle | illustrated |
| -ing form | illustrating |
Common combinations
- illustrate with examples
- The lecturer is illustrating the rule with examples from sport.
- clearly illustrate
- The data clearly illustrate the trend.
- illustrate a children's book
- She is illustrating a children's book about tides.
- illustrate a point
- A quick story is illustrating his point better than statistics.
Synonyms and how they differ
- demonstrating
- Shows proof or how something works; illustrating often makes an idea easier to picture or understand.
- showing
- General and common; illustrating is more deliberate and often visual or example-based.
- depicting
- Focuses on representing in words or images; use for description rather than explanation.
Opposites
Word family
- illustration noun
- A picture or example that explains something.
- illustrative adjective
- Serving as a helpful example.
- illustrator noun
- A person who draws pictures for publications.
Commonly confused: illustrating or illuminating?
illustrating vs illuminating
Illuminating means making clear or giving insight; illustrating more specifically adds examples or pictures.
Practice
Complete the pattern: The teacher is illustrating the rule ______ real student errors.
Choose one answer.
Illustrate something with something is the standard pattern for giving examples. For would name a beneficiary, while against/about do not fit the example-bearing object here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “illustrating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.