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to enlighten

to enlighten

55 4.8
To give someone clear information to help them understand something
  • verb
  • /ɪnˈlaɪtən/
translation icon : informar
  • But for the rest of you, please allow me to enlighten you.
  • enlighten the public
  • enlighten readers
  • enlighten an audience

And my goal is to enlighten and educate, not to anger people.

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Examples

  • We were hoping you could enlighten us.

  • Please enlighten me, what is this ancient technique you speak of?

  • And often they say things that enlighten me, that wake me up, that change my life.

  • I am here to enlighten you.

  • - Could one of you please enlighten me as to what this is all about?

  • So, care to enlighten me?

  • This episode will enlighten and form and inspire you to change once and for all.

  • And my goal is to enlighten and educate, not to anger people.

  • The participants were evidently enlightened by what they learned about themselves.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The teacher used stories to enlighten her students about historical events.

Synonyms

to educate
vsto enlighten
627 2.2

To give someone knowledge and skills by teaching or training over time

is usually quicker, focusing on immediate understanding or clarification
to clear
vsto enlighten
363 2.8

To make something easy to understand

adds deeper knowledge rather than just removing doubt
to clarify
vsto enlighten
248 3.3

To make something clear so others can understand it

also increases knowledge, not only removing confusion
to clear up
vsto enlighten
172 2.3

To explain something so people understand it

aims additionally to increase someone's overall understanding
to illuminate
vsto enlighten
51 4.8

To make something clear or easier to understand

focuses on expanding overall understanding beyond simple clarity
to awaken
vsto enlighten
35 3.7

To make someone become aware of something for the first time

aims at sustained understanding rather than just initial awareness
to shed light
vsto enlighten
30 3.7

Make a fact or situation easier to understand

goes further to raise a person's general understanding
to shed light on
vsto enlighten
26 3.9

To help people understand something by explaining it

extends that clarity into greater overall understanding
to shine light on
vsto enlighten
  • Literature
26 3.9

To show information people do not know

also teaches understanding rather than only revealing facts
to familiarize
vsto enlighten
24 4.1

To help someone learn about something

goes beyond mere familiarity to deepen knowledge and insight
to bring to light
vsto enlighten
20 3.7

To show facts that were hidden before

seeks to increase a person's understanding, not only reveal facts
to provide insight into
vsto enlighten
12 3.9

Help people understand a topic more clearly

is similar but more about giving broad knowledge, not only insight
to elucidate
vsto enlighten
  • Formal
11 6.8

To explain something so it is easy to understand

gives broader understanding rather than only detailed explanation
to demystify
vsto enlighten
7 5.1

To make something easier to understand by removing mystery or confusion

is broader, adding positive knowledge beyond simply removing confusion
to edify
vsto enlighten
  • Formal
3 7.0

To teach someone in a way that makes their thinking and actions better

focuses more on giving immediate understanding rather than long moral growth
to open someone's eyes
vsto enlighten
  • Informal
3 3.7

Make someone understand something they did not know before

provides fuller understanding and explanation, not only sudden realization
to illumine
vsto enlighten
1 8.1

To light something or make it easier to understand

aims more at increasing someone's overall knowledge rather than light alone
to illuminate the issue
vsto enlighten
1 4.9

To help people understand a topic by explaining it clearly

is more general, giving wider understanding not only issue clarity
to lumine
vsto enlighten
  • Archaic
9.9

To explain a difficult idea so someone understands

is chiefly about practical understanding rather than spiritual emphasis

To help someone understand more about a subject or the world

is narrower, giving specific clarity rather than broadening overall view

Antonyms

86 7.0

Make something hard to see or understand

35 4.8

To give someone wrong information, often by mistake

How Enlightening

to enlighten
55 4.8
to illuminate
51 4.8
to clarify
248 3.3
to explain
1.0
to inform
1.0

Surface Forms

enlighten infinitive
enlightened past participle
enlightening present participle
enlightens third person singular

Morphology

enlighten = lighten (transparent) = en + light + en

The meaning 'to give knowledge or understanding' follows directly from 'make light' (light = knowledge) and the verb-forming -en; learners who know 'light' and the productive suffixes will readily infer this sense.

Etymology

Enlighten comes from the parts en- 'make' and light 'bright', which you can also see in the words light and lighten. So to enlighten someone about a topic is to 'bring light' to a confused idea, making it clear and easier to understand.