Word
enlighten
Phoneticsen·light·en, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɛnˈɫaɪtən/
UK/ɛnlˈaɪtən/
Definition
v. to give someone more knowledge or understanding about a topic. You use this when you help someone see the truth about a situation.
v. to provide someone with greater knowledge, understanding, or spiritual insight. Often used in the passive voice to describe a state of being informed.
Examples
“Could you enlighten me on how this new software works?”
“The documentary aims to enlighten the public about the environmental impact of fast fashion.”
“While the professor's lecture did much to enlighten the students on the historical context of the treaty, many still struggled with its modern legal implications.”
Examples
simple
“Could you enlighten me on how this new software works?”
contextual
“The documentary aims to enlighten the public about the environmental impact of fast fashion.”
complex
“While the professor's lecture did much to enlighten the students on the historical context of the treaty, many still struggled with its modern legal implications.”
Usage
Transitive verb; often followed by the preposition 'on' or 'about' when specifying the subject matter.
Pitfall
He enlightened to me the situation
He enlightened me on the situation
Enlighten is a transitive verb that takes the person as a direct object; it does not use 'to' before the person.
Etymology
Formerly also inlighten, from Middle English enlightenen, inlightnen, a hybrid formed from inlighten (“to enlighten, illuminate”), from Old English inlīhtan, onlīhtan, enlīhtan (“to enlighten, illuminate, give light to, give sight to”) and lightnen (“to enlighten, illuminate”) (equivalent to light + -en). Cognate with Dutch inlichten (“to enlighten, inform”), Old High German inliuhten (“to enlighten, illuminate”), Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌷𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (inliuhtjan, “to enlighten, illuminate”). More at inlight, -en.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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