illumination
noun
il·lu·mi·na·tion i-ˌlü-mə-ˈnā-shən 
1
: the action of illuminating or state of being illuminated: such as
a
: spiritual or intellectual enlightenment
b(1)
: a lighting up
(2)
: decorative lighting or lighting effects
c
: decoration by the art of illuminating
2
: the luminous flux per unit area on an intercepting surface at any given point
3
: one of the decorative features used in the art of illuminating or in decorative lighting
Synonyms
- clarification
- construction
- elucidation
- exegesis
- explanation
- explication
- exposition
- illustration
- interpretation
- road map
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
When taking photographs indoors, use a flash for illumination. They traveled to the temple in search of spiritual illumination. an old manuscript with beautiful illuminations
Recent Examples on the Web The vast cloud of the Milky Way offers nearly the only illumination until the blue lights of the fire engine switch on. 
Michael Schwirtz, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2022 Almost no illumination besides individual stoplights shined back up. Joshua Sokol, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2022 The light has 72 LEDs for strong illumination, a 60-degree angle, and a two-year warranty with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Toby Grey, BGR, 15 Sep. 2022 The illumination of the Eiffel Tour will end at 11:45 p.m., which is when the tower closes to visitors, starting Sept. 21, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2022 Oishi, who helps administer the program for the Bureau of Street Services, compared the illumination levels of the digital display to the brightness of candlelight. Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 An officer stopped a westbound 2006 Honda Accord initially for no rear license plate illumination and the fact the occupants were not wearing safety belts at 9:18 p.m. Aug. 30. Thomas Jewell, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2022 As Europe contends with spiraling power bills, thanks in no small part to Russia’s war in Ukraine, extravagant nighttime illumination is being called into question—including at the Eiffel Tower. Steve Mollman, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2022 The notch is gone, replaced by a camera cutout near the top of the screen that is made to look like a UI element—with functionality and everything—thanks to the iOS software and the true-black, per-pixel illumination OLED screen tech. Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 7 Sep. 2022 See More
Michael Schwirtz, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2022 Almost no illumination besides individual stoplights shined back up. Joshua Sokol, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2022 The light has 72 LEDs for strong illumination, a 60-degree angle, and a two-year warranty with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Toby Grey, BGR, 15 Sep. 2022 The illumination of the Eiffel Tour will end at 11:45 p.m., which is when the tower closes to visitors, starting Sept. 21, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2022 Oishi, who helps administer the program for the Bureau of Street Services, compared the illumination levels of the digital display to the brightness of candlelight. Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 An officer stopped a westbound 2006 Honda Accord initially for no rear license plate illumination and the fact the occupants were not wearing safety belts at 9:18 p.m. Aug. 30. Thomas Jewell, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2022 As Europe contends with spiraling power bills, thanks in no small part to Russia’s war in Ukraine, extravagant nighttime illumination is being called into question—including at the Eiffel Tower. Steve Mollman, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2022 The notch is gone, replaced by a camera cutout near the top of the screen that is made to look like a UI element—with functionality and everything—thanks to the iOS software and the true-black, per-pixel illumination OLED screen tech. Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 7 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
illumination
noun
il·lu·mi·na·tion i-ˌlü-mə-ˈnā-shən
: the action of lighting something : the state of being lighted
Medical Definition
illumination
noun
il·lu·mi·na·tion il-ˌü-mə-ˈnā-shən
1
: the action of supplying or brightening with light or the resulting state
2
: the luminous flux per unit area on an intercepting surface at any given point
called also illuminance
illumination
noun
1
as in explanation
a statement that makes something clear the candidate's so-called illuminations of his views on a number of controversial issues left many voters in the dark Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- explanation
- interpretation
- illustration
- translation
- elucidation
- construction
- analysis
- explication
- clarification
- exegesis
- exposition
- definition
- reasoning
- road map
- enlightenment
- demonstration
- decoding
- annotation
- commentary
- restatement
- meaning
- gloss
- deciphering
- justification
- paraphrase
- comment
- edification
- rationalization
- epexegesis
- rationale
- warning
- enactment
- disentanglement
- caveat
- unscrambling
- caution
2
as in brightness
the quality or state of having or giving off light in that clime the illumination of the full moon on a clear night is so bright that you can practically read by it Synonyms & Similar Words
- brightness
- brilliancy
- brilliance
- lightness
- light
- glow
- luminosity
- radiance
- glare
- luminance
- effulgence
- luminousness
- dazzle
- refulgence
- splendor
- luster
- candor
- luminescence
- glint
- lustre
- flicker
- gleam
- lambency
- fluorescence
- lustrousness
- incandescence
- flame
- twinkle
- blaze
- fire
- flare
- flash
- glimmer
- shimmer
- sheen
- sparkle
- shine
- gloss
- shininess
- scintillation
- polish
- glitter
- flash
- burnish
- glisten
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- darkness
- dark
- blackness
- dullness
- dulness
- dimness
- duskiness
- gloominess
- cloudiness
- somberness
- obscurity
- haziness
- murkiness
- paleness
- grayness
- obscureness
- colorlessness
- shadowiness
- shadiness
- lackluster
3
as in light
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible a steady illumination from the flashlight was all I had while changing the tire Synonyms & Similar Words
- light
- glow
- glare
- gleam
- luminescence
- sunlight
- fluorescence
- incandescence
- beam
- radiance
- glint
- moonlight
- reflection
- flare
- blaze
- flash
- shine
- twinkle
- glimmer
- ray
- sparkle
- daylight
- shimmer
- scintillation
- sunshine
- glitter
- aurora
- aureole
- halo
- sunbeam
- afterglow
- stream
- sheen
- gloss
- streak
- luster
- shaft
- aureola
- lustre
- polish
- glisten
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- darkness
- dark
- night
- dusk
- blackness
- dimness
- shadow
- gloom
- duskiness