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
Examples of illumination in a Sentence
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 Old Farmer's Almanac details specific moonrise times for different ZIP codes across the U.S.
The moon will be below the horizon in the U.S. at the time of peak illumination, so the Farmer's Almanac suggests spectators check it out on Wednesday or Thursday night instead.
—
Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 22 May 2024
Fireworks fans also have additional ways to take in the evening illuminations, as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has become a prime viewing spot thanks to the addition of music and a light storyline that feeds into the lore of the land.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for illumination 
Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 22 May 2024
Fireworks fans also have additional ways to take in the evening illuminations, as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has become a prime viewing spot thanks to the addition of music and a light storyline that feeds into the lore of the land.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for illumination
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'illumination.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Illumination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illumination. Accessed 5 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
illumination
noun
il·lu·mi·na·tion
il-ˌü-mə-ˈnā-shən
1
a
: the action of illuminating or state of being illuminated
b
: amount of light
2
: gold or colored decoration in a manuscript
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
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