enlightening Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make understand
    edify; enlighten.
    • Can you enlighten me--I don't understand this proposal
  2. verb give spiritual insight to; in religion
    irradiate; enlighten.
  3. verb make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear
    crystallise; illuminate; straighten out; elucidate; clear; clear up; crystallize; sort out; crystalise; shed light on; crystalize; enlighten.
    • Could you clarify these remarks?
    • Clear up the question of who is at fault
  4. adjective tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance
    informative; illuminating.
    • an enlightening glimpse of government in action
    • an illuminating lecture
  5. adjective enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement
    edifying.
    • the paintings in the church served an edifying purpose even for those who could not read

WordNet