illustrate
verb
il·lus·trate
ˈi-lə-ˌstrāt 
also i-ˈlə-
illustrated; illustrating
1
a
: to provide with visual features intended to explain or decorate
illustrate a book
b
: to make clear by giving or by serving as an example or instance
c
: to make clear : clarify
2
: to show clearly : demonstrate
3
4
: to give an example or instance
Examples of illustrate in a Sentence
He illustrated his lecture with stories of his own experiences in the field.
Please give a few examples to illustrate your point.
The results illustrate how important it is to wear your seatbelt.
The students will write and illustrate their own stories.
Recent Examples on the Web
Efficiency at what cost? Read: The rise of techno-authoritarianism
Careless People illustrates how this ideological vacuum is filled by its leaders’ fleeting whims and governed by their fragile egos.
—
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
The tragic case of Kitty Genovese in 1964 famously illustrated this concept, though the case details have been subject to later scrutiny and revision.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
However, Zada did illustrate a good point in breaking down his workflow in that using the tech to build a vision for your project can often put many filmmakers ahead of the curve.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 21 Mar. 2025
Political thrillers are all the rage right now, as illustrated by the Nielsen streaming charts for the week of February 17 to 23, where Zero Day, Reacher, The Night Agent and Paradise all appeared in the rankings.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrate
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Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
The tragic case of Kitty Genovese in 1964 famously illustrated this concept, though the case details have been subject to later scrutiny and revision.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
However, Zada did illustrate a good point in breaking down his workflow in that using the tech to build a vision for your project can often put many filmmakers ahead of the curve.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 21 Mar. 2025
Political thrillers are all the rage right now, as illustrated by the Nielsen streaming charts for the week of February 17 to 23, where Zero Day, Reacher, The Night Agent and Paradise all appeared in the rankings.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrate
Cite this Entry
“Illustrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illustrate. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
illustrate
verb
il·lus·trate
ˈil-əs-ˌtrāt
il-ˈəs-
illustrated; illustrating
1
: to make clear by using examples
illustrated his point with a personal experience
2
a
: to provide with pictures or diagrams intended to explain or decorate
illustrate a book
b
: to serve as an illustration
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