illuminated
gb/ɪlˈumɪnˌeɪtɪd/ us/ɪlˈumɪnˌeɪtɪd/
B2
English
~ 7000
megvilágított, kivilágított, megvilágít, rávilágít, érthetővé tesz, megvilágosodott, felvilágosult, illuminált kézirat, díszített kódex
B2
1
kivilágított
B1
Usage pattern:
[place/thing] is illuminated by [light source]
The garden was beautifully illuminated by small lanterns.
A kertet gyönyörűen megvilágították a kis lámpások.
At night the cathedral is fully illuminated and can be seen from miles away.
Éjszaka a katedrális teljesen ki van világítva, és kilométerekről is látható.
The path is poorly illuminated, so be careful where you step.
The artist worked in a brightly illuminated studio.
Emergency exits must be clearly illuminated at all times.
Learner examples
The room was illuminated by a single lamp.
A szobát egyetlen lámpa világította meg.
The streets are illuminated after dark.
Sötétedés után az utcák ki vannak világítva.
Her face was illuminated by the phone screen.
The sign is illuminated so drivers can see it at night.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *illuminated* when they only mean 'decorated'. *Illuminated* always involves light; for decoration without light, words like *decorated* or *ornamented* are more accurate.
Meaning
lit up with light
Collocations
brightly illuminated
|well illuminated
|illuminated sign
|illuminated street
|illuminated room
|illuminated area
Synonyms
lit (More informal and very common in everyday speech; often used for anything with light on or in it.)
|
lighted (Similar meaning, slightly less common; often used in combinations like 'lighted path'.)
Antonyms
dark (Describes a place or thing with little or no light.)
|
unlit (More technical or careful; specifically means there is no light source on or in something.)
Themes
daily life
|buildings
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having light on it or in it, so it is easy to see.
Receiving or filled with light, so that it is bright or clearly visible.
VERB
C1
2
megvilágít
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] illuminated [something]
The fireworks illuminated the night sky.
A tűzijáték fényei megvilágították az éjszakai égboltot.
A single candle illuminated the small chapel.
Egyetlen gyertya világította meg a kis kápolnát.
Headlights illuminated the road ahead.
Lightning briefly illuminated the mountain peaks.
Learner examples
The streetlights illuminated the road.
Az utcai lámpák megvilágították az utat.
The lamp illuminated his desk.
A lámpa megvilágította az íróasztalát.
The full moon illuminated the lake.
The flash from the camera illuminated her face.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse *illuminated* with *turned on*. *Illuminated* focuses on the effect of light on something, while *turned on* is about starting a device.
Meaning
lit something up with light
Collocations
illuminated the room
|illuminated the sky
|illuminated the stage
|illuminated the scene
Synonyms
lit up (More informal common phrasal verb; used in many of the same contexts.)
|
brightened (Can imply both adding light and making something look happier or more cheerful.)
Antonyms
darkened (Means to make something darker or reduce the light.)
Themes
daily life
|nature
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Made something bright by shining light on it or in it.
Past tense or past participle of *illuminate*: to shine light on something or make it bright.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
[something] illuminated [topic/problem]
The report illuminated the hidden causes of the crisis.
A jelentés rávilágított a válság rejtett okaira.
Her questions illuminated several weaknesses in the plan.
A kérdései rávilágítottak a terv több gyenge pontjára.
The documentary illuminated how the healthcare system really works.
His research has illuminated the complex history of the region.
Learner examples
The teacher's story illuminated the idea for me.
A tanár története érthetővé tette számomra a gondolatot.
The article illuminated the reasons for the change.
A cikk rávilágított a változás okaira.
The study illuminated how stress affects sleep.
Her example illuminated the meaning of the word.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *illuminated* here when *explained* would sound more natural in everyday speech. *Illuminated* is often used in more formal or academic writing for this figurative meaning.
Meaning
made something clearer to understand
Collocations
illuminated the issue
|illuminated the problem
|illuminated the subject
|illuminated the debate
Synonyms
clarified (Common and straightforward; strongly focuses on making something less confusing.)
|
explained (Broader, more general; does not always imply revealing something new or deep.)
Antonyms
obscured (Means to make something less clear or harder to understand.)
|
confused (Means to make a topic or person less clear, the opposite of helping understanding.)
Themes
education
|communication
|science
Definition
Explained something or showed new facts so that people could understand it better.
Past tense or past participle of *illuminate*: to make a subject clearer or easier to understand by explaining it or showing new information.
C1
LITERARY
4
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels/becomes illuminated
After the retreat, she described herself as an illuminated being.
Az elvonulás után megvilágosodott lényként jellemezte magát.
The text is written from the perspective of an illuminated mind.
A szöveg egy megvilágosodott elme nézőpontjából íródott.
He spoke in a calm, illuminated way about life and death.
The poem suggests that even ordinary people can become illuminated through compassion.
Learner examples
The monk was seen as an illuminated teacher.
A szerzetest megvilágosodott tanítónak tartották.
After many years of study, he felt illuminated.
Sok év tanulás után úgy érezte, megvilágosodott.
In the story, the hero meets an illuminated old man.
She wrote about her illuminated state after meditation.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this word instead of *enlightened*. In everyday English, *enlightened* is much more common; *illuminated* in this sense sounds literary or spiritual.
Meaning
spiritually or intellectually enlightened
Collocations
feel illuminated
|spiritually illuminated
|an illuminated soul
|an illuminated consciousness
Synonyms
enlightened (More common and natural in modern English; can be spiritual or just very well-informed and open-minded.)
Antonyms
ignorant (Lacking knowledge or awareness, the opposite of having deep understanding.)
|
benighted (Formal/literary; suggests being in mental or moral darkness.)
Themes
religion
|philosophy
|emotions
|education
Definition
Knowing or understanding something in a deep or spiritual way, as if light is in your mind.
Having deep understanding or spiritual insight, often as a result of learning, reflection, or a powerful experience.
C1
TECHNICAL
5
Usage pattern:
illuminated [manuscript/text/page]
The museum owns several illuminated manuscripts from the twelfth century.
A múzeum több 12. századi illuminált kéziratot őriz.
Each illuminated page contains tiny scenes painted in vivid colors.
Minden illuminált oldalon élénk színekkel festett apró jelenetek láthatók.
The first letter of the chapter is an illuminated initial decorated with gold leaf.
Learner examples
We saw an old illuminated manuscript in the library.
A könyvtárban láttunk egy régi illuminált kéziratot.
The illuminated page had many small gold details.
Az illuminált oldalon sok apró arany részlet volt.
Monks made illuminated books by hand.
An illuminated manuscript is slow and expensive to make.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think *illuminated* here means 'lit up'. In art history, it refers to decoration with color and gold, not to electric light.
Meaning
decorated manuscript with gold and color
Collocations
illuminated manuscript
|illuminated page
|illuminated initial
|medieval illuminated texts
Synonyms
decorated (Very general; does not specifically suggest the traditional gold and painted designs of historical manuscripts.)
|
illustrated (Focuses on pictures added to a text; lacks the idea of gold leaf and ornate borders.)
Antonyms
plain (Describes a manuscript or page without decoration.)
Themes
history
|art
|literature
|arts_entertainment
|education
Definition
Used about an old book or document that has many colorful pictures and gold decoration around the writing.
Describes a manuscript or text that has been decorated with colorful designs, pictures, and often gold or silver, especially in medieval books.
Grammar
Dictionary form
illuminated
IPA
GB/ɪlˈumɪnˌeɪtɪd/
US/ɪlˈumɪnˌeɪtɪd/
Syllables & stress
il - lu - min - ated (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lu)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: illuminated
Word family
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
unilluminated
adjective
Expressions
illuminated sign
1/ɪlˈumɪnˌeɪtɪd sˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
sign that lights up
A sign with lights inside or behind it, so people can see it at night.
Examples
- The restaurant installed a large illuminated sign above the entrance.
- Illuminated signs help drivers find gas stations on dark highways.
- City law limits how bright illuminated signs can be in residential areas.
illuminated manuscript
1/ɪlˈumɪnˌeɪtɪd mˈænjəskɹˌɪpt/
fixed phrase
technical
decorated historical handwritten book
A very old book written by hand, with many colorful drawings and gold decoration around the words.
Examples
- The museum’s most famous piece is a 12th‑century illuminated manuscript.
- The library's most valuable item is an illuminated manuscript from the 13th century.
- Students examined an illuminated manuscript to learn about medieval art.
- Art students studied an illuminated manuscript to learn about medieval painting techniques.
- The exhibition features illuminated manuscripts borrowed from several European monasteries.