Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb illuminate

3 senses of illuminate

Sense 1
light, illume, illumine, light up, illuminate -- (make lighter or brighter; "This lamp lightens the room a bit")
       => lighten, lighten up -- (become lighter; "The room lightened up")

Sense 2
clear, clear up, shed light on, crystallize, crystallise, crystalize, crystalise, straighten out, sort out, enlighten, illuminate, elucidate -- (make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear; "Could you clarify these remarks?"; "Clear up the question of who is at fault")
       => clarify, clear up, elucidate -- (make clear and (more) comprehensible; "clarify the mystery surrounding her death")

Sense 3
illuminate -- (add embellishments and paintings to (medieval manuscripts))
       => decorate, adorn, grace, ornament, embellish, beautify -- (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.; "Decorate the room for the party"; "beautify yourself for the special day")