Word
illustrate
Phoneticsil·lus·trate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪɫəˌstɹeɪt/
UK/ˈɪləstɹˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to explain with examples
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
v. to explain or make an idea clear by giving a specific example.
v. to clarify or explain a point by providing examples, comparisons, or evidence. Often used in academic contexts to introduce supporting data.
“The teacher used a simple story to illustrate how the new law works.”
“The professor provided several case studies to illustrate the long-term effects of inflation on consumer spending habits.”
Usage
Often used with 'how' or 'that' clauses.
Synonyms
02to add pictures
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to draw or provide pictures for a book or article.
v. to provide a publication with decorative or explanatory visual features such as drawings, photographs, or diagrams.
“She was hired to illustrate a new series of children's books about space.”
“The manuscript was beautifully illustrated with hand-drawn maps and detailed botanical sketches from the nineteenth century.”
Usage
Commonly used in the passive voice when discussing books.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “illustrate” in context.
Verb
01. clearly illustrate
“The latest statistics clearly illustrate that the economy is recovering.”
adv + verb
02. illustrate by
“The point can be illustrated by looking at the results of our recent survey.”
verb + prep
03. illustrate concept
“The teacher used a simple experiment to illustrate the concept of gravity.”
verb + noun
04. illustrate difference
“These two case studies illustrate the difference between the two marketing strategies.”
verb + noun
05. illustrate difficulty
“The recent delays illustrate the difficulty of managing such a large project.”
verb + noun
06. illustrate importance
“The accident serves to illustrate the importance of wearing a seatbelt.”
verb + noun
07. illustrate principle
“The diagram is intended to illustrate the basic principle of how a steam engine works.”
verb + noun
08. well illustrate
“His stories well illustrate the challenges faced by immigrants in the 19th century.”
adv + verb
Noun
09. example illustrate
“This specific example illustrates how the new law will affect small businesses.”
noun + verb
10. table illustrate
“The following table illustrates the growth in population over the last decade.”
noun + verb
Real-World Examples
“The history of Daimler-Benz illustrates how the pursuit of power and personal ambition can strongly shape managerial decision-making .” “As a father of young children, he recently saw another dad using glasses to film kids at a birthday party, a moment that illustrates how smart glasses have shifted the power dynamic.” “The financial figures for 2024-25, the most recent season available, for the eight Women’s Super League clubs who published detailed accounts illustrate a growing gulf between the rich and the poor.” “To illustrate his point, Dahl and his colleagues propose a concept familiar to most parents: the cost of missing out, or COMO.” Etymology
Back-formation from illustration.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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