illustrate
/ˈɪl.ə.streɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To explain something with an example, picture, or story. In academic writing, it often means to make an idea clearer.
- The teacher illustrated the rule with an example.
- This chart illustrates the company's growth.
- She illustrated her point with a short story.
Adinary Nuance
Use illustrate when you want to make an idea clearer by giving examples, pictures, or evidence. It is more formal than show or explain, and it often fits academic or business writing. It does not usually mean “decorate with drawings”; that older meaning is less common today.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- minh họa
- Spanish
- ilustrar
- Chinese
- 说明
- Japanese
- 説明する
- Korean
- 설명하다
Etymology
From Latin illustratus, past participle of illustrare, meaning “to make bright” or “to make clear.” It entered English in the 15th century.
Common phrases
illustrate a pointillustrate with an exampleillustrate the differenceillustrate a report
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is illustrate formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal. People use it often in essays, reports, and presentations.
- What is the difference between illustrate and show?
- Show is more general. Illustrate means you make something clearer by giving an example or visual support.
- Can I use illustrate in IELTS Writing?
- Yes. It is a good academic word for explaining ideas clearly.
- Does illustrate mean to draw pictures?
- Sometimes, but that meaning is less common now. Most often, it means to explain with examples or visuals.