enlighten
Bring to understanding
To enlighten is to give someone knowledge or understanding they lacked: The documentary enlightened me about the history of redlining.
The word suggests illumination—bringing light to darkness, clarity to confusion.
In spiritual contexts, enlightenment is a state of profound wisdom or awakening: The Buddha became enlightened under the Bodhi tree.
To enlighten can also mean simply to inform: Would you care to enlighten us about your plans?
Impart skills or knowledge
- instructConvey knowledge or orders
- informGive facts to
- explainMake something understood
- educateProvide formal instruction
tutor · mentor · coach · guide · lecture · elucidate · clarify · edify
Make something understandable
- revealMake something visible
- brightenIncrease luminosity or cheer
- clear upResolve or brighten
- demystifyExplain something confusing
unravel · expose · disclose · make clear · open eyes · show · explain · untangle
Return to consciousness
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- satoriSudden spiritual awakening
- transcendenceSurpassing usual limits
- bodhiBuddhist spiritual awakening
illumination · meditation · mindfulness · buddha · zen · dharma · karma · moksha
Surprising disclosed truth
- realizationGrasping what's true
- ahaExclamation of realization
- eurekaDiscovery triumph cry
- breakthroughSudden important advance
insight · discovery · flash · eye-opener · awakening · moment · sudden · clarity
Basis or justification
- rationalitySound judgment quality
- philosophyStudy of fundamental truths
- knowledgeUnderstood facts and skills
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
understanding · thinkers · Voltaire · Kant · Locke · Rousseau · humanism · progress
teach
Impart skills or knowledge
educate · tutor · mentor · coach · guide · lecture · elucidate · clarify · edify · school
clarify
Make something understandable
demystify · unravel · expose · disclose · make clear · open eyes · show · explain · untangle · decode
awakening
Return to consciousness
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- satoriSudden spiritual awakening
- transcendenceSurpassing usual limits
bodhi · illumination · meditation · mindfulness · buddha · zen · dharma · karma · moksha · samadhi
revelation
Surprising disclosed truth
- realizationGrasping what's true
- ahaExclamation of realization
- eurekaDiscovery triumph cry
breakthrough · insight · discovery · flash · eye-opener · awakening · moment · sudden · clarity · understanding
reason
Basis or justification
- rationalitySound judgment quality
- philosophyStudy of fundamental truths
- knowledgeUnderstood facts and skills
wisdom · understanding · thinkers · Voltaire · Kant · Locke · Rousseau · humanism · progress · science
- educateteach, instruct, educate, tutor, school
- personal growthlearning, coming-of-age, growth, knowledge, life lessons
- revealreveal, disclose, expose, unmask, unveil
- communicateexpress, convey, communicate, tell, share
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
- educationeducation, school, schools, teachers, students
- spiritual enlightenmentProfound transcendent awareness
- Age of EnlightenmentEra prioritizing reason
- enlightened beingOne attaining spiritual wisdom
enlightened, enlightening, enlightenment, unenlightened, enlightens, enlightener