illustrated

Word family

• illustrate
  verbB1
• illustration
  nounB1
• illustrator
  nounB2
• illustrative
  adjectiveC1
• illustrious
  adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All four words involve making something clear, but they differ in how. 'Illustrate' uses a concrete example or story to show a broader truth, much like a picture makes an idea visible. 'Demonstrate' goes a step further — it shows how something works or proves a point through action or evidence, often in a practical or scientific context (a mechanic demonstrates how an engine runs). 'Exemplify' is more formal and means that the subject itself serves as a typical example of a category ('Her kindness exemplifies the spirit of the community'). 'Clarify' focuses on removing confusion by restating or simplifying ('Could you clarify what you mean?'). Use 'illustrate' when you give a specific case that brings a general idea to life: 'The teacher illustrated the law of gravity by dropping a pen from her desk.'

Common collocations

Etymology

The word 'illustrate' comes from Latin 'illustratus', the past participle of 'illustrare', meaning 'to light up, illuminate, make clear'. In ancient Rome, 'lustrare' meant 'to make bright' or 'to light'. The idea of 'lighting up' a text with pictures emerged in the 1600s, and by the 1800s the sense of 'making an idea clear with examples' was fully established. The participle 'illustrated' started being used as an adjective describing books with pictures in the 19th century.