ENGLISH
REFERENCE

illustrate

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɪɫəˌstɹeɪt// UK //ˈɪləstɹˌeɪt// il·lus·trate Academic Archaic General-service

v. to explain something by using examples, pictures, or stories so it is easier to understand. You can also use it when one thing clearly shows that another thing is true.

v. to clarify or explain a concept by providing examples, analogies, or visual aids; to serve as a clear instance or evidence of a phenomenon. Transitive — requires a direct object.


SIMPLE

The teacher uses a diagram to illustrate how the heart works.

CONTEXTUAL

To illustrate the point about rising costs, the speaker showed a graph of energy prices over the last decade.

COMPLEX

The recent failure of the regional bank serves to illustrate the inherent risks of over-leveraging assets in a volatile market, providing a cautionary tale for future investors.

Synonyms
Origin

Back-formation from illustration.

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. When used with visual media, it often takes the preposition 'with'.

Pitfall

The author illustrates about the problemThe author illustrates the problemIllustrate is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'about' before its object.

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