to illustrate
Make clear pictorially
To illustrate is to make something clearer through examples, images, or demonstrations.
A teacher illustrates a concept with a diagram; a writer illustrates an argument with anecdotes: Let me illustrate what I mean.
The word also means to provide pictures for a book or article: She illustrated children's books for thirty years.
Something that illustrates a point serves as a typical example of it: His failure illustrates the dangers of overconfidence.
- demonstrateShow or prove something
- for exampleIntroducing an instance
- depictRepresent through art
- showMake something apparent
- point outDirect attention toward
make clear · sketch · draw · draw a picture · diagram · example · clarify · picture · visual aid · explain · visualize · portray · render · illuminate · bring to life · exemplify · highlight · showcase
- clarifiersi.e., e.g., namely, meaning, specifically
- transitionstransition, blending, segue, fade, changeover