enlightened

/ɪnˈlaɪtnd/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈlaɪtnd/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈlī-tᵊnd en-/ (ame, mw)

enlightened — adjective

  • enlightenedpositive
  • more enlightenedcomparative
  • most enlightenedsuperlative

1. willing to judge people and new ideas fairly instead of holding on to narrow or

1.形容詞C1
釋義

willing to judge people and new ideas fairly instead of holding on to narrow or outdated views.

例句

Rohan remained enlightened when younger staff asked for flexible holiday rules.

remain enlightened when social expectations change

The principal gave an enlightened response to parents from many faiths.

enlightened + response to social difference

同義詞
  • open-minded

    stresses willingness to hear unfamiliar ideas, while enlightened often adds a stronger sense of social progress

  • progressive

    often sounds more political or connected to reform

  • tolerant

    focuses on allowing differences, not always actively understanding them

  • humane

    emphasizes kindness and compassion more than attitude toward new ideas

反義詞
  • prejudiced

    judges people unfairly through fixed negative ideas

  • narrow-minded

    unwilling to consider views outside one's usual beliefs

  • reactionary

    strongly opposed to modern social change

文法句型

be enlightened about + social issue

enlightened + noun (attitude, response, mayor, policy)

remain / seem / sound enlightened

用法筆記

Often describes people, policies, or attitudes in social matters. Distinguish it from sense 3, which is about a judgment based on full understanding of a problem rather than fairness toward others.

常見錯誤

❌My enlightened cousin explained the train timetable.
✅My informed cousin explained the train timetable.
💡this sense is about broad, fair attitudes, not simply knowing the facts.
❌The hotel offers enlightened rooms for tourists.
✅The hotel offers modern rooms for tourists.
💡enlightened usually describes people, views, or policies, not ordinary objects.

2. having reached a deep understanding of life that brings spiritual insight or inn

2.形容詞C2
釋義

having reached a deep understanding of life that brings spiritual insight or inner peace.

例句

After years of meditation, Minho felt enlightened for the first time.

feel enlightened after a spiritual practice

The novel ends with an enlightened monk walking back into the village.

enlightened + spiritual role noun

同義詞
  • awakened

    the closest spiritual synonym, often used in religious or meditative contexts

  • illumined

    more literary and less common in everyday modern English

  • wise

    broader and not necessarily tied to spiritual realization

反義詞
  • unenlightened

    lacking insight or still limited by ignorance

  • ignorant

    simply lacking knowledge, without the spiritual focus

  • confused

    suggests mental uncertainty rather than insight

文法句型

feel / become enlightened

enlightened + noun (monk, teacher, being)

more enlightened than + clause

用法筆記

This sense appears mainly in spiritual, philosophical, or literary contexts. If someone simply knows more facts about a topic, English usually uses informed or aware instead.

常見錯誤

❌After reading the budget file, Maya felt enlightened.
✅After reading the budget file, Maya felt informed.
💡enlightened here suggests a deeper spiritual or existential insight, not ordinary factual knowledge.
❌The mechanic gave me an enlightened report on the engine.
✅The mechanic gave me a detailed report on the engine.
💡this sense is not used for routine practical information.

3. formed from a clear grasp of all sides of a difficult issue rather than from a q

3.形容詞C1
釋義

formed from a clear grasp of all sides of a difficult issue rather than from a quick or careless judgment.

例句

The committee made an enlightened decision after hearing patients and nurses.

make an enlightened decision after hearing all sides

Kian offered an enlightened comment on housing after reading the full report.

enlightened comment after full information

同義詞
  • informed

    the closest everyday adjective, though it may sound less thoughtful and less evaluative

  • thoughtful

    stresses careful consideration more than full factual understanding

  • well-judged

    focuses on the quality of the final decision

  • far-sighted

    adds the idea of planning wisely for the future

反義詞
  • ill-informed

    based on incomplete or wrong information

  • hasty

    made too quickly, without enough thought

  • superficial

    showing only a shallow understanding of the problem

文法句型

enlightened + noun (decision, policy, answer, review)

make / reach an enlightened decision

offer / give an enlightened view

用法筆記

This sense usually modifies judgments, policies, or comments after careful study of a complex matter. When the emphasis is on social fairness or lack of prejudice, sense 1 is the better fit.

常見錯誤

❌The team made an enlightened guess in ten seconds.
✅The team made an informed guess in ten seconds.
💡enlightened here suggests a judgment built on full understanding, not a quick estimate.
❌Her enlightened chair looked perfect in the office.
✅Her stylish chair looked perfect in the office.
💡this sense describes decisions or views, not furniture.