MEANING
to make an idea clearer by giving an example or showing it visually
Use it for
Words that belong together
- illustrate a point
- illustrate with an example
- illustrate the difference
On the page
The diagram illustrates how the parts interact.
One case illustrates the problem but cannot establish its frequency.
The next paragraph illustrates the distinction with a short exchange.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- illustrate / illustrates
- Past tense
- illustrated
- Past participle
- illustrated
- Present participle
- illustrating
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- illustrate / illustrates
- Present continuous
- am/is/are illustrating
- Present perfect
- have/has illustrated
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been illustrating
- Past
- illustrated
- Past continuous
- was/were illustrating
- Past perfect
- had illustrated
- Past perfect continuous
- had been illustrating
- Future
- will illustrate / illustrates
- Future continuous
- will be illustrating
- Future perfect
- will have illustrated
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been illustrating
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary curation section: Academic. An illustration clarifies or exemplifies; one illustrative case does not necessarily prove a general claim. illustrate; illustrates; illustrated; illustrated; illustrating. Related noun: illustration.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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