illustrate

4 definitions • 6 examples

to draw pictures for a book, magazine, etc.:

a beautifully illustrated book/old manuscript

to show the meaning or truth of something more clearly, especially by giving examples:

illustrate something with something The lecturer illustrated his point with a diagram on the blackboard.

This latest conflict further illustrates the weakness of the UN.

[ + question word ] The exhibition will illustrate how life evolved from water.

to add pictures to something, such as a book:

She writes children’s books and also illustrates them.

To illustrate is also to show the meaning or truth of something more clearly by giving examples:

To illustrate her point, she told a story about how her family felt when they moved here.