enlightening Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb make understand
   edify; enlighten.
   
   • Can you enlighten me--I don't understand this proposal
2. verb give spiritual insight to; in religion
   irradiate; enlighten.
   
3. verb make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear
   crystallise; illuminate; straighten out; elucidate; clear; clear up; crystallize; sort out; crystalise; shed light on; crystalize; enlighten.
   
   • Could you clarify these remarks?
   • Clear up the question of who is at fault
4. adjective tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance
   informative; illuminating.
   
   • an enlightening glimpse of government in action
   • an illuminating lecture
5. adjective enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement
   edifying.
   
   • the paintings in the church served an edifying purpose even for those who could not read

WordNet