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to illustrate

to illustrate

301 3.5
To explain something using pictures or examples
  • verb
  • /ˈɪləˌstreɪt/
translation icon : ilustrar
  • The teacher used a drawing to illustrate the concept of gravity to her students.
  • illustrate the point
  • the example illustrates
  • illustrate the concept

It's a simple way of illustrating a very important point.

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Examples

  • An effective and helpful analogy to illustrate this concept is the cylindrical drum plot.

    Academic text (2011)
  • A wonderful story, and it also illustrates the way proofs work.

  • But let me give you some numbers to illustrate the challenge.

  • I only brought it up to illustrate a point.

  • I'm taking you to this storytelling to illustrate a very simple point.

  • Both concepts are illustrated in this example.

  • Although this occurred many years ago, the story is often used to illustrate the effectiveness of the Israeli security measures.

  • The boxes and arrows on the right side of the figure illustrate these influences.

    Academic text (2011)
  • We're going to use Lego to illustrate linked lists.

  • Let's just look at the peristaltic reflex to illustrate this.

Synonyms

to explain
vsto illustrate
1.0

To make something clear by describing it in simple words

relies more on images or examples for explanation and decoration
to show
vsto illustrate
  • US
932 1.0

To make a picture of a person or place

adds the aim of explaining or decorating through those visuals
to demonstrate
vsto illustrate
211 3.1

Show people how something works or is done

focuses more on using images or examples to explain or decorate
to depict
vsto illustrate
176 3.5

To show something in a picture or in words

is aimed at explanation or decoration using those images or examples
to represent
vsto illustrate
126 2.6

Describe something in a particular way to show an idea

is specifically about using visual elements or examples to explain
to paint a picture
vsto illustrate
58 3.7

To describe someone or something in detail so the reader can imagine them

uses images or examples mainly to explain or to decorate a subject
to render
vsto illustrate
52 6.3

To show an idea in an artistic way, for example in music, art, or translation

is more about using visuals and examples to explain or decorate items
to exemplify
vsto illustrate
  • Formal
45 6.8

To show something clearly by using a real situation

uses examples or images to explain or decorate something
to portray
vsto illustrate
30 3.7

To show a person or thing in art like a painting

focuses on explaining or decorating with images rather than pure artistry

Antonyms

266 1.9

Make someone unable to think clearly or make something hard to understand

28 8.2

Hard to understand because it is unclear or complex

How Clear

to clarify
248 3.3
to explain
1.0
to illustrate
301 3.5
to demonstrate
211 3.1
to show
1.0

Surface Forms

illustrate infinitive
illustrated past participle
illustrating present participle
illustrates third person singular

Morphology

illustrate = illustration (transparent) = illustr + ate

The verb is directly related to the noun 'illustration' (learners who know the noun can infer the verb meaning), and this is effectively a verb formed from that noun in English.

Etymology

The word illustrate comes from the Latin illustrare, which means 'to make light'. Think of a picture 'lighting up' an idea, so to illustrate something is to make it clear or to add pictures and examples to explain it.